6 facts
These amphibians can survive being frozen for weeks, with their heart and breathing stopping entirely. They produce a natural antifreeze (glucose) that protects their cells from ice crystal damage, allowing them to reanimate once temperatures rise.
These remarkable amphibians can survive having up to 65% of their body water freeze into ice during winter. They produce a natural antifreeze (glucose) that protects their vital organs and cells from damage, allowing them to effectively "hibernate" in a frozen, non-beating state until warmer temperatures return.
This phenomenon, known as the Mpemba effect, is still not fully understood but has been observed for centuries. Hypotheses include supercooling, evaporation, convection currents, and dissolved gases affecting the freezing process.
This phenomenon, known as the triple point, occurs at a precise temperature and pressure where water's solid, liquid, and gaseous phases coexist in thermodynamic equilibrium. It's a critical reference point in thermometry.
This counterintuitive phenomenon, observed by Erasto Mpemba, suggests that under specific conditions, hot water can freeze before an identical volume of cold water. Scientists are still debating the exact mechanisms, with supercooling and convection being among the leading theories.
Certain frog species, like the wood frog, can survive having up to 65% of their body water freeze into ice. They produce a natural antifreeze (glucose) that protects their cells, allowing them to thaw out and hop away when spring arrives.