People In US Are Throwing Boiling Water In The Air To Watch It Freeze Instantly

The weather in the midwest and northeast regions of North America can be best described as being freezing cold! The temperatures are so low that the Niagara Falls has frozen over. Schools are shut, flights are down and people have been advised to stay warm inside to avoid frostbites. The Guardian reports that “a blast of Arctic air known as the polar vortex” is the cause for the cold. Some are even comparing the icy conditions to Antarctica!

But life goes on and people are braving the weather with some fun and science. Residents are making videos of stuff like freezing eggs on a sidewalk, bubbles freezing to snow and throwing boiling hot water and watching it turn into icy vapour. Yes, it’s real guys. See for yourself.

The ‘boiling water challenge’ has gone viral

#WATCH: Boiling water turns to snow in sub-Arctic freezing #Chicago! ❄️🌨️⛄ pic.twitter.com/FyKQSkKfje

— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) January 30, 2019

Why is everyone using boiling ‘hot’ water though?

According to ABC News, “Sometimes hot water can freeze into ice quicker than cold water. This is thanks to an unusual phenomenon called the Mpemba effect.” Experts also sound a word of caution for everyone trying this experiment. Scalding water burns the skin upon contact, even if the temperatures outside are sub-zero.

Here are some more videos of the challenge

Boiling water freezing before it hits the ground. -21° F pic.twitter.com/qiPpD1ZEPX

— Jeff Friedman (@thefriedmanfirm) January 30, 2019

The science teacher in me couldn’t resist:

Near-boiling water is close to becoming steam, so when thrown into -14 degree air and -35 wind chill it will condense into a cloud immediately. #Minneapolis #MinnesotaCold pic.twitter.com/57Wfgj8Dz7

— Christian Alberto Ledesma (@MrCLedesma) December 30, 2017

The classic brutal sub-zero weather experiment at my Minneapolis home – boiling water freezes in seconds @wcco has the latest on this polar vortex plunge – stay warm and stay safe ! pic.twitter.com/gQJglgAG0f

— esme murphy (@esmemurphy) January 29, 2019

Throwing boiling water in -31°F #WinterWonderland #freezing pic.twitter.com/WoHEc8zlL8

— Elizabeth (@Phantom6781) January 30, 2019

Update: throwing boiling water outside and it freezing is a real thing #PolarVortex pic.twitter.com/AreQBMInQp

— briana (@fearlesssince09) January 30, 2019

https://twitter.com/Gewitter_Blitz/status/1090667238099689473

Doing science and having fun on this Polar Vortex cold day. Enjoy your time off and stay warm. I'll see you all Friday!! (Instantly freezing boiling water)@LMFosnaugh @WMSCampbellot @WMSPrinc pic.twitter.com/48NbbZ0lyt

— April Hartsig (@WMSHartsigville) January 30, 2019

We made predictions, talked about evaporation, the freezing & boiling point of water & chemical changes. Science lesson complete ✅
Now back to the couch & fire & snow day snuggles ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kRU9Nj0Z3S

— Jess Barwacz (@JessBarwacz) January 30, 2019

What a way to look at the bright side of things, right?