Magazine
September-October 2013
September-October 2013
Volume: 101 Number: 5
What looks like an intricate flower is actually a natural ice structure. Conditions must be just right for such "ice flowers" to form: The air has to be below freezing, but the ground must remain warm enough for water to stay a liquid. In addition, only certain plants have the right kinds of stems to produce these structures. The stems pull up water from the ground, and as water freezes on the central stem, it pushes out the dry and cracked outer layers. Then more water rises through the stem, ultimately giving rise to long frozen curls. In "Flowers and Ribbons of Ice," James Carter explains how to observe, and even create, these delicate marvels. He also describes other ice formations—emerging from rocks or soil, or extruding from holes in pipes—that illustrate how weird water can be. (Image courtesy of James R. Carter.)
In This Issue
- Art
- Astronomy
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Communications
- Computer
- Economics
- Engineering
- Environment
- Ethics
- Evolution
- Mathematics
- Medicine
- Physics
- Policy
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Technology
Flowers and Ribbons of Ice
James Richard Carter
Physics
Beautiful, gravity-defying structures can form when water freezes under the right conditions.
Digital Forensics
Simson L. Garfinkel
Computer Sociology
Modern crime often leaves an electronic trail. Finding and preserving that evidence requires careful methods as well as technical skill.
Citizen Science Takes Root
Kayri Havens, Sandra Henderson
Communications Environment
Building on a long tradition, amateur naturalists are gathering data for understanding both seasonal events and the effects of climate change.
