The test: How well does fat insulate? We tried our hand(s) at staying warm with a layer of extra fat by taking our own version of the Icebucket Challenge. We immersed our hands in ice water and recorder the results. One hand was protected in a comfortable, well insulated layer of blubber. The other was not.
Descriptive words used to describe the insulated hand: “warm and toasty,” “cozy warm,” “absolutely comfortable,” and “totally fine.”

The uninsulated hand? “Cold, cold, COLD!” “Freezing!” “Shocking, burning pain.” “Agony of cold.”

No one had to keep their hands immersed longer than they could tolerate, but everyone experienced the difference, first hand!