Tossing boiling water into the air during plunging temperatures has become a popular science experiment to try at home, but a Tennessee meteorologist recently showed a slightly different approach to the popular activity: blowing bubbles.
An arctic blast brought frigid temperatures, bone-chilling winds and heavy snow to much of the United States last weekend and early this week. Very cold temperatures persisted on Wednesday for some areas of the U.S., including in Roan Mountain, Tennessee, where meteorologist Tom Niziol shared a video of what happens when you blow bubbles in zero-degree weather.
“It’s 0° here in Roan Mountain, Tennessee, and a perfect time to make frozen ice bubbles!!” Niziol posted on X (formerly Twitter) along with the video.
In the clip, a large bubble is blown outside in front of an icy backdrop. At the start of the video, the bubble appears normal, but after it finishes forming, hexagonal ice crystals begin to bloom along the surface until they encompass the entire bubble.
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The video had received nearly 57,000 views as of Thursday morning. One of Niziol’s followers said she bought bubbles to try the experiment in Arkansas, where it was 6 degrees.
“I am not sure bubble solution that you buy will work. You can try it, wind has to be calm, bubbles are very fragile. I have made them with temps as warm as low teens,” Niziol responded.
The follower responded later and said that the experiment wasn’t successful.
Other followers responded with expressions of joy.
“Freezing temperatures make me playful!” one wrote.
“I’m totally doing that,” another said. “Brilliant!”
Although Niziol blew the bubble on a solid surface so it didn’t fall and shatter, a report by Live Science suggests people blow the bubbles high in the air so they have time to freeze before they hit the ground. Ice bubbles form best when temperatures fall below 12 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the report. When they break, they resemble the shell of a cracked egg.
Tennessee residents could get another chance to try the ice bubble experiment as temperatures remain cold in the region through the weekend. According to a National Weather Service webpage, temperatures in Morristown, Tennessee, were only 8 degrees, and winds were calm on Thursday morning. NWS Morristown is the office that serves the Roan Mountain area.
NWS meteorologist Jeanie McDermott told Newsweek that temperatures will rise out of the single digits after Thursday morning but then return to that territory over the weekend as another system approaches.
“With that cold spell, it looks like it’ll warm up by Monday,” she said.
The region is under a winter weather advisory, with light snow expected in the valley and higher snow totals anticipated in the mountains.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.