RESEARCHERS in East China’s Zhejiang Province have developed an ultra-warm, lightweight and durable aerogel fiber by mimicking the structure of polar bear fur. Scientists from Zhejiang University’s College of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering were involved in this research. Polar bears have fur that has a porous core encapsulated in a dense shell, a structure that keeps the animals warm and dry at minus 40 degrees Celsius but is relatively lightweight, said Bai Hao, a leading professor in chemical and biological engineering. By mimicking the core-shell structure, scientists encapsulated the aerogel fiber with a stretchable layer, providing possibilities for developing multifunctional aerogel fibers and textiles.(Xinhua) | 