Nature’s Cool Solution In our last post, we examined how Antarctic fish survive freezing waters using antifreeze proteins, which prevent ice formation in their bodies. But what about the opposite case? What if we could make water freeze more easily at slightly warmer temperatures, using less energy? Isabel Pulido solved that puzzle after experiencing firsthand… Continue reading From Frost-Forming Bacteria to Off-Grid Refrigeration:
Category: Physics
How Cool is Supercooling!
Have you ever pulled a bottle of water from the freezer, twisted the cap, and watched in amazement as it crystallized right before your eyes? You’ve just experienced supercooling—one of the coolest (literally!) phenomena in science. So, what exactly is supercooling, and why does it happen? Quick Science Dive: What’s Supercooling Anyway? Water normally freezes… Continue reading How Cool is Supercooling!
Uncommon Ice
Different Types of Ice Learning about Isabel Pulido’s NanoFreeze technology, which is helping preserve food in rural Colombia, led me to take a closer look at the science of freezing. At first, it seemed simple—ice is just frozen water. But I soon found out that water can actually freeze into nearly 20 different solid forms,… Continue reading Uncommon Ice
Ice is Cool!
How Water Freezes (and Why It Matters) Ice—Simple Yet Strange Ever wondered why ice cubes float or why sidewalks become slippery when they’re covered in frost? Ice might seem ordinary, but it’s packed with fascinating mysteries. In our recent post, we introduced Isabel Pulido’s groundbreaking invention, NanoFreeze, which uses special proteins to freeze water at… Continue reading Ice is Cool!
Goodbye Moon?
“Some say the world will end in fire…” —Robert Frost As we prepare for a spectacular eclipse on April 8, 2024, we can reflect on a cosmic question. Are we losing our moon? Although the moon seems constant in its orbit about 384,000 km from earth, it is moving slowly away. Each year the moon… Continue reading Goodbye Moon?
Magnetars:
Extreme Cosmic Physics Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light! — Dylan Thomas What happens to massive stars as they near the end of their lives? Some go supernova, generating one of the most powerful explosions in the universe. The fiery fury of a supernova releases… Continue reading Magnetars:
A Tale of Two Elements:
Marie Curie and Lise Meitner November 7th marked the shared birthday of Marie Curie and Lise Meitner, pioneers whose discoveries transformed our understanding of the atom. These two are the only women with elements of the periodic table named after them: Curium and Meitnerium. They also shared both the brilliance and tenacity to succeed when… Continue reading A Tale of Two Elements:
The Coriolis Effect
Answering a Reader’s Questions As posted last week, the Coriolis Effect steers the winds and ocean currents around the globe in huge spiral patterns, all because our Earth spins. A reader asked who discovered this pattern in nature and wanted to know what happens at the equator. Does the prevailing north counterclockwise and south clockwise… Continue reading The Coriolis Effect
Unmasking the Coriolis Effect:
An Invisible Influence on Wind and Water You have probably heard of the Coriolis Effect. It’s a rather cool concept in Earth science that might seem like magic, but it’s all about physics. This invisible force explains why hurricanes spin and why long-distance pilots have to be careful about their flight paths. I used to… Continue reading Unmasking the Coriolis Effect:
What is a Fata Morgana?
In 1880, Prince George of Wales, the future king of England, then in his teens, saw it during a sea voyage. As he wrote in his journal, “July 11th. At 4 a.m., the Flying Dutchman [the legendary ghost ship] crossed our bows. A strange red light as of a phantom ship all aglow… stood out… Continue reading What is a Fata Morgana?