New synthetic fabric modeled after polar bear fur outperforms cotton

Engineers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a synthetic version of polar bear fur that is lighter than cotton and warmer. The two-layered fabric models the bear's fur and black skin that helps it stay warm. The fabric is already in development for commercial use and could be used for outerwear or indoor lighting to directly heat the body. The fabric works by conducting light to a lower layer made of nylon and coated with a dark material called PEDOT, which warms up. The synthetic fabric could be more sustainable than the status quo.