Why does metal feel colder than wood?
The Heat Thief
Why does metal feel colder than wood?
You grab a metal spoon from the drawer. Cold! Then you touch the wooden spoon right next to it. Warmer. But wait — they've been sitting in the same drawer all morning. Same temperature. So why does the metal feel like ice on your fingertip while the wood feels... chill?
Here's the secret: heat is always moving. Right now, your hand is about 37 degrees — body temperature, warm and alive. The spoons in the drawer? They're room temperature, maybe 20 degrees. Your hand is warmer. Heat flows from warm things to cold things, like water flowing downhill.
