Curious Minute
Jul 28
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Curious Minute answer

What color is a polar bear's skin beneath its fur?

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The answer

Black

The answer was Black. Here's the why, the decoys, and the source trail.


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Why it's right

Polar bears have black skin beneath fur that appears white. Their hairs are actually pigment-free and transparent, scattering visible light so the coat looks white.


Source trail

This answer is checked against Polar Bears International: Adaptations and Characteristics and Polar Bears International: What Does Polar Bear Fur Feel Like?.



About the choices

A good question makes the wrong answers feel close. Here is the clean read on the set.

  • Black - correct answer.
  • Pink - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.
  • White - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.
  • Gray - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.

What to remember

Black is the one to remember. Polar bears have black skin beneath fur that appears white. A polar bear's coat has two layers: a soft undercoat and longer guard hairs that help protect it from Arctic weather.


How readers answered
A83%
B17%
C0%
D0%

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Sources: Polar Bears International, Polar Bears International