Radiolab Kleptotherms
227 snips
Feb 6, 2026 
John, who lives with schizoaffective disorder, shares a personal account of wearing many layers even in heat as a way to cope. He describes voices, medication struggles, and how bundling became a shield. The conversation explores redundant clothing across clinicians and studies, the social meaning of layering, and surprising links between social life and body temperature.
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Snake Steals Heat From Birds
- A bright blue sea snake in New Caledonia sneaks into bird burrows and coils around birds to absorb their body heat.
- Researchers call this behavior kleptothermy, literally heat theft used across many animals.
Heat Theft Is Energy Efficient
- Kleptothermy can cut thermoregulation energy costs by roughly 60–70%.
- Animals (and humans) save huge metabolic energy by stealing or sharing heat instead of producing it.
Layers As A Shield
- John, who has schizoaffective disorder, began wearing many layers in summer to feel shielded and warmer.
- His bundled clothing pushed people away and fed his isolation until proper medication helped him shed layers.
