Hairy wetsuit! MIT develops beaver-inspired wetsuit

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS— Inspired by hairy semiaquatic mammals like beavers and sea otters, researchers at MIT are developing a new kind of material for wetsuit, fabricated from the pelts of beavers and otters to improve swimmers’ insulation.

Led by MIT professor Anette Hosoi, the team fabricated fur-like pelts to study how beavers and sea otters stay warm while diving underwater. During the study, the team submerged the pelts in silicone oil to observe the formation of air pockets.

The result shows that the fabricated pelts with thicker fur that were plunged at higher speeds generally retained a thicker layer of air within their fur.