Polar bears are very closely related to brown bears, but have numerous key adaptations that help them survive in extreme arctic conditions. They have two layers of fur to help them keep warm and dry.

You probably know polar bears as the big white animals roaming the Arctic, but there’s a lot about them that doesn’t make it ...

A comparison of the genomes of polar bears and brown bears reveals that the polar bear is a much younger species than previously believed, having diverged from brown bears less than 500,000 years ago.

Polar bears adapted to life in cold Arctic climates in part by relying on a high-fat diet mainly consisting of seals and their blubber. In a study published by Cell Press May 8th in the journal ...

This adaptation is beautifully exemplified by the polar bear. Among the world’s largest predators, polar bears maintain normal body temperature even at -34° F. Like the average mammal, a polar ...

Polar bears are white, right? Not quite. Though closely related to the brown bears you might find in the most northern regions of the United States, polar bears have a special set of adaptations ...

Since polar bears and grizzlies only diverged about 500,000 to 600,000 years ago, ... adding that individual species generally have adaptations best suited for their habitat.

While global polar bear numbers are estimated between 22,000 and 31,000, the impact of climate change isn’t uniform. Some subpopulations, like those in western Hudson Bay, are in steep decline.

The genes pinpointed by the study are related to fatty acid metabolism and cardiovascular function, and may explain the bear’s ability to cope with a high-fat diet while avoiding fatty plaques in ...