6 Minute English How do we adapt to the cold?
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Mar 19, 2026 They explore why some people tolerate cold better than others and which factors—genes, culture, birthplace and clothing—shape our feeling of cold. There is a quiz about the coldest recorded temperature and advice on dressing for extreme cold. The conversation covers acclimatization, gender differences in cold response, and how lifestyle and environment combine to change our tolerance.
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Cold Tolerance Comes From Genes Culture And Place Of Birth
- People’s experience of cold varies due to genes, culture and place of birth rather than a single cause.
- Phil and Becca note examples from Finland and the UK to show both environment and upbringing shape cold tolerance.
Dress For The Climate To Reduce Cold Stress
- Choose clothing carefully because what you wear is one of the most obvious factors affecting how cold you feel.
- Professor Gunhild Sartran, living on Svalbard, emphasises dressing for the climate when advising on BBC World Service CrowdScience.
Gender And Habit Influence Cold Perception
- Gender and habituation both influence cold perception, with Gunhild suggesting men may tolerate cold differently to women.
- She uses first and foremost to stress gender as the primary consideration when choosing clothing.