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Experiment
Blubber Mitt Experiment
See how blubber keeps marine mammals warm in cold water.
20 min Easy
📋 What You'll Need
- •2 zip-top sandwich bags
- •Crisco or shortening (as 'blubber')
- •A bowl of ice water
- •Duct tape
👣 Step by Step
🔍 What to Observe
- •How much longer could you keep your hand in the water with the blubber mitt?
- •Did the blubber mitt feel warm on your hand?
- •Why do manatees and whales need a thick blubber layer?
💡 Tips & Safety
- •Manatees have blubber layers up to 3 inches thick to stay warm in winter.
- •Whales in the Arctic can have blubber up to a foot thick!
- •This is why manatees gather at warm-water refuges like power plants in winter.