Why do certain metals feel colder to the touch compared to other materials, even when they are at the same temperature?
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It makes sense if you really think about why our skin can sense temperature in the first place. In nature, you never need to know the actual temperature of something. All you functionally need to know is “how long can I touch this thing before I get burnt/frozen”. It’s like triage in a way. A hot thing that conducts heat really quickly will burn you really quickly, regardless of it’s actual temperature, so that’s what your body needs to know.
You also don’t have a “wetness” sensor. It’s the same reason you can grab a piece of clothing and it’s hard to tell if it’s wet or cold. A cold cloth and a wet cloth will both pull heat away from your skin faster than a warm dry cloth because water is a pretty good conductor. You will use other queues like weight and texture to try to make it out, but sometimes it’s difficult.
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