At nearly 40yo, I just witnessed "flash freezing" occur naturally for the first time.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CasualConversation/comments/1h5rqhu/at_nearly_40yo_i_just_witnessed_flash_freezing/

created by BlottomanTurk on 03/12/2024 at 16:42 UTC

583 upvotes, 29 top-level comments (showing 25)

Since it's getting colder lately, we've been keeping a case of bottled water outside (no need to waste precious leftovers' space in the refrigerator, y'know).

Yesterday and last night were particularly cold, and the bottles on the outermost sides of the case had frozen solid. So I grabbed a couple from the middle of the case to bring 'em inside.

As I set one bottle down on the counter, it froze, ballooned up, and tipped over with a `*THUNK*` sound! I was completely caught off guard; for a moment, I looked around the kitchen thinking I had broken something nearby...until I realized the sound was from the now-ice bottle, lol.

And, in an instant, I scanned through over three decades of memories trying to figure out **what exactly just happened**, and *why it happened*. It's just one of those neat science things that you never even think about until it happens.

I finally unlocked a dusty ol' memory of my 6th grade science teacher supercooling water (among other stuff), and then bonking the side of the container with a stick to make it instantly freeze. And then I snapped back to present time.

So, naturally, I slammed the second bottle onto the counter, leaned over, posted my big goofy face right next to it, and watched the sciencin' happen right in front of my very eyes.

I'm trying my hardest to avoid the layup pun in saying "it's so cool", lol. So I'll just say **it is very neat**; both to experience natural but (in my life) uncommon science, *and* to be able to "travel" to a specific moment when I learned about it.

You ever had something like this that just fills you with that **pure, unadulterated wonder** you had when you were a kid?

Comments

Comment by danarexasaurus at 03/12/2024 at 16:53 UTC

152 upvotes, 4 direct replies

I can’t believe you didn’t film it for that sweet Reddit karma (and so I can see it) lol

Comment by CafeTeo at 03/12/2024 at 17:33 UTC

47 upvotes, 0 direct replies

It's funny how society works.

So like 20 years ago I discovered flash freezing by accident. Got in the car and took a sip of my water. It stayed water... Then i went over a bump and BAM, frozen slush.

I was able to repeat it and recorded a video.

Everyone said it was fake. Showing the video or explaining it to people I was called an idiot who clearly was missing something else that actually happened or I was lying.

THEN one day a video on reddit blew up showing the exact thing. and BAM now everyone believes me.

Comment by ribeyecut at 03/12/2024 at 17:26 UTC

30 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I don't think I knew this was a thing! I'll have to find some demonstrations on YouTube. Incidentally, my partner is also fond of using the outdoors as refrigeration space. Which turned out not to be a good idea when a curious squirrel punctured a gallon jug of apple cider.

Comment by isabelladangelo at 03/12/2024 at 17:32 UTC

16 upvotes, 1 direct replies

If it's cold enough outside where you are - watch what happens when you have a bubble blower going....

Comment by MatterInitial8563 at 03/12/2024 at 18:15 UTC

6 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I don't have qualms about the layup pun.

Because ITS SO COOL!

Check out the NileRed guy on YT. He does a LOT of cool little science things, highly recommend!

Def record next time, we wanna see the flash freezing too!

Comment by catinthecupboard at 04/12/2024 at 03:15 UTC

6 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Okay so sometimes I put a gatorade in the freezer and if I pull it out at exactly the right moment and give it a shake this happens and I squeal like a toddler. It IS cool. Extremely neat. All of the above! I’ve taken to grabbing my poor 70 yo mother and making her stand there with me in case we have a winner. She is SO sick of my bs lol.

Comment by sevnthcrow at 03/12/2024 at 17:48 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I had that happen when I cracked opened a sports drink that had been outside - the whole thing just shifted over to solid ice! Definitely a moment of wonder/that’s so coooool (pun intended)

Comment by scumuppet at 04/12/2024 at 02:23 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I was 35 before I pulled a static-y blanket over my head in the dark and saw hundreds of tiny lightening bolts. It was AMAZING!!!!

Comment by Katsaj at 03/12/2024 at 18:12 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I once had this happen with a bottle of Sprite that had been in a too-cold hotel mini fridge. As soon as I cracked the lid and there were bubbles, the whole bottle went from liquid to solid. It was so cool!

Comment by Rosyqween at 03/12/2024 at 18:47 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

That’s epic! Flash freezing in action is like catching nature in a magic trick. And the way you turned your kitchen into a science lab is straight-up childhood nostalgia vibes. It's like when you see those slow-mo videos of stuff you shouldn’t try at home but do anyway because, science. Bet your 6th-grade self would be proud. Keep on experimenting—just maybe keep a spare towel handy next time for the aftermath, lol.

Comment by broodfood at 03/12/2024 at 19:36 UTC

3 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I accidentally superheated a cup of water in the microwave. It was….scary.

Comment by CrystallineBunny at 03/12/2024 at 18:30 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

OMG! I know it’s just so cool. When I was in middle school, our gym teacher would wheel out a chest freezer that he kept at just the right temperature, we would hand him 25¢, and in exchange he would hit the bottle with his palm and hand it over. Some of the best water I’ve ever had.

Comment by tehmwhy71 at 03/12/2024 at 19:11 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

That's so cool! I've never seen it before either!

Comment by cecilkorik at 03/12/2024 at 22:11 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Another fun trick is to carefully open them up, carefully pour them out, and build things with the slushy ice they make when they insta-freeze on impact.

Comment by Observer_042 at 03/12/2024 at 22:20 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I used to do a really cool demo of nearly instant crystallization using Sodium Acetate.

like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2nJybaKOP0[1][2]

1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2nJybaKOP0

2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2nJybaKOP0

Comment by velawesomeraptors at 03/12/2024 at 22:36 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

When I was living in the tropics a while back we didn't have a fridge so we stored our water bottles in the freezer. Some of them would flash freeze like you described. Gave them a nice slushy texture.

Comment by Vodis at 03/12/2024 at 23:11 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I had this happen with a bottled water I pulled from the cooler at work once. I think that's the only time I've ever witnessed it in person. It is indeed very neat.

Comment by MandMcounter at 03/12/2024 at 23:32 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I think you're going to inspire a lot of people to try this at home!

Comment by TaleOfDash at 04/12/2024 at 00:21 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Some of you have clearly never stuck a bottle of coke in the freezer just long enough for it to get to that flash point and then turned it upside-down to generate an instant coke slushy, and I'm very sad you haven't.

Comment by getwhatImsaying at 04/12/2024 at 00:45 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

yes! this happened to me once! I put a bottle of water in the freezer and went back to get it a few days later, when I opened the freezer I could see the water was still completely liquid. I picked it up and gave it a shake and it instantly turned to ice from the center outward. it was so cool! I was so excited I made science happen lol

Comment by Due-Bonus1056 at 04/12/2024 at 02:00 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

That is super cool man! Finally something useful from school haha

Comment by twirlytressanna at 04/12/2024 at 02:34 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

That’s such a great feeling! It’s amazing how these moments can make you feel like a kid again, just filled with wonder over something simple but so cool.

Comment by j1ggy at 04/12/2024 at 05:38 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Try getting the lid off of a super-cooled bottle of water without bumping and solidifying it. Drink some. It's soooo good.