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Longji Cui, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder

New materials, old physics – the science behind how your winter jacket keeps you warm

Modern winter jackets use a few time-honored physics principles to keep you warm. Magda Indigo/Moment via Getty Images

As the weather grows cold this winter, you may be one of the many Americans pulling their winter jackets out of the closet. Not only can this extra layer keep you warm on a chilly day, but modern winter jackets are also a testament to centuries-old physics and cutting-edge materials science.

Winter jackets keep you warm by managing heat through the three classical modes of heat transfer – conduction, convection and radiation – all while remaining breathable so sweat can escape.

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