# What the heck happened to this ice-cube? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 5, 2007, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811 "2007-04-05T01:57:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MrFantsyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811/1 "2007-04-05T01:57:27Z")
So I pulled a tray of ice cubes out of the freezer a couple of days ago, and one of the ice cubes had a 3/4" spike sticking out of it. [photos…](http://www.zebraspot.com/misc/WTFIceCube.jpg) Now can anyone explain to me how this happened? After I took the photos, I let it melt to see if maybe there was a hair in there or something, but under a magnifying glass, nothing was visible. Nothing was above it near in the freezer. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811/2 "2007-04-05T02:01:49Z")
Been asked before. [Ice Spikes.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=330978). ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811/3 "2007-04-05T02:31:46Z")
[http://www.newscientist.com/backpage.ns?id=mg19025472.100](http://www.newscientist.com/backpage.ns?id=mg19025472.100) The surface sheets over with ice. As the rest of the cube freezes, it pushes water up through the last open part of the surface, and this water freezes as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811/4 "2007-04-05T12:06:47Z")
For some kind of award that constantly comes up? It seems to be the most recurring question I can remember since I’ve been here. not that it isn’t still neat to look at, and all. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811/5 "2007-04-05T12:40:41Z")
Why does your water (ice) look brown? I’m hoping it’s an artifact of the photography rather than an accurate color match. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811/6 "2007-04-05T14:47:05Z")
[QUOTE=cornflakes] [http://www.newscientist.com/backpage.ns?id=mg19025472.100](http://www.newscientist.com/backpage.ns?id=mg19025472.100) The surface sheets over with ice. As the rest of the cube freezes, it pushes water up through the last open part of the surface, and this water freezes as well. [/QUOTE] That article keeps implying its going to show you how to make these ice spikes, but never seems to get around to it. Or am I missing something? It says to look at the little diagram on the bottom right, and the diagram is called “How to make ice spikes” or words to that effect, but it doesn’t actually end up telling you how to do it. It just says why they sometimes form. Anyone know a way of inducing this phenomenon? -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811/7 "2007-04-05T15:02:14Z")
[QUOTE=Frylock] That article keeps implying its going to show you how to make these ice spikes, but never seems to get around to it. Or am I missing something? It says to look at the little diagram on the bottom right, and the diagram is called “How to make ice spikes” or words to that effect, but it doesn’t actually end up telling you how to do it. It just says why they sometimes form. Anyone know a way of inducing this phenomenon? -FrL- [/QUOTE] Not a GQ answer, 'cause I don’t know for sure, but I’d try waiting until the ice sheeted over and then poking a small hole with a toothpick. Hopefully, this would provide the low-pressure spot an ice spike needs to form. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811/8 "2007-04-05T15:07:33Z")
[QUOTE=Sigene] For some kind of award that constantly comes up? It seems to be the most recurring question I can remember since I’ve been here. [/QUOTE] Oddly enough … this is the first time I’ve ever seen the topic. Isn’t it interesting how differently various Dopers can view the SDMB? ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811/9 "2007-04-05T15:15:03Z")
[QUOTE=GaryM] Why does your water (ice) look brown? I’m hoping it’s an artifact of the photography rather than an accurate color match. :dubious: [/QUOTE] It’s the god awful orange background. Reflected turns the ice that lovely brown. I hope… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811/10 "2007-04-05T15:28:56Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] Not a GQ answer, 'cause I don’t know for sure, but I’d try waiting until the ice sheeted over and then poking a small hole with a toothpick. Hopefully, this would provide the low-pressure spot an ice spike needs to form. [/QUOTE] Just using distilled water is apparently enough, and you can add a fan to speed up the process via evaporative cooling. A cold freezer (-7 F or lower) helps, too. [Cite](http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/aprilholladay/2005-10-24-ice-spikes_x.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811/11 "2007-04-05T15:43:37Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] Oddly enough … this is the first time I’ve ever seen the topic. Isn’t it interesting how differently various Dopers can view the SDMB? [/QUOTE] What he said. You guys need to relax a bit. I read the dope on a regular basis and have not seen this topic before either. These rolls eyes responses do not make newer posters feel comfortable with asking questions. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811/12 "2007-04-05T16:25:19Z")
[QUOTE=Mikemike2] These rolls eyes responses do not make newer posters feel comfortable with asking questions. [/QUOTE] Nobody in this thead is rolling their eyes at the question. If you think they are, you probably need to grow a thicker skin. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Hildo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@Johnny\_Hildo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Hildo)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811/13 "2007-04-05T18:43:37Z")
My old refridgerator freezer used to produce these things almost daily. According to scientific articles I’ve read, it has something to do with the air flow inside the freezer. This phenomenom has also been observed in outdoor birdbaths with a much larger spike. The articles never seem to address why these things almost always sprout at a near 45-degree angle, though. ---
**Author:** ![MrFantsyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-happened-to-this-ice-cube/398811/14 "2007-04-06T02:50:03Z")
[QUOTE=GaryM] Why does your water (ice) look brown? I’m hoping it’s an artifact of the photography rather than an accurate color match. :dubious: [/QUOTE] Bounce-flash off orange walls.