High school science teacher “Mr. Kent” has a YouTube channel full of neat chemistry demonstration videos. In this one, he sets ice on fire. Here’s how:

Ice is added to a dry Pyrex bowl. When the Ice melts the water reacts with the calcium carbide (place on the bottom) to produce acetylene gas and calcium hydroxide. The acetylene gas then explodes into flames when a match is place on top. It will continue to burn even as the ice melts because it keeps producing acetylene until the calcium carbide runs out.

via Urlesque | Mr. Kent’s Chemistry Page | YouTube Channel

Last year we had posted a really cool time lapse video “The Southern Lights” filmed by Anthony Powell who works at a base in Antarctica which really wowed us all. Now allow me to present to you folks another time lapse video which is just a sample of a larger video that Anthony and his wife Christine (who also lives in Antarctica) are working upon together.

Time-lapse video filmed in Antarctica, in and around McMurdo Station and Scott Base. Each year the sun is below the horizon for 4 months in the middle of winter, and above the horizon for 4 months in summer. During the couple of months in between we have more-or-less normal days.

Includes shots of auroras and the very rare polar stratospheric nacreous clouds, which form when ozone depleting gases crystallize in the upper atmosphere in the intense cold.
Summer population is about 1200 people, winter about 200.

This is just a small sample of an ongoing project to collect time-lapse imagery of Antarctica. I have taken over 1,000,000 individual photos and worn out a number of cameras that make up the collection of footage I have gathered so far over the last 6 years.

Anthony’s Pictures and Video Clips – “Antarctic Images”
His blog regarding life in Antarctica which is very interesting! – “Frozen South“

Two firefighters in dry suits pushed an ice rescue sled over about 10 feet of hip-deep water and 10 feet of ice to reach Duke, who was shivering and occasionally whining.

After trying to free the tail with water and a crowbar-like Haligan tool, firefighter Brandon Fleury broke the ice around Duke’s tail with a mallet while firefighter Ben Jares held onto the dog by his collar.

They got the shivering animal onto the sled and were hauled back to shore by seven other firefighters who had arrived.

It took four firefighters – one just to hold up the tail with the large chunk of ice attached – to lift the 118-pound dog into a waiting golf cart.

Duke was OK after the staff at an animal hospital removed the ice. Link -via Arbroath

(image credit: Casey Riffe/Gazette)

Maybe it’s just because I live in sunny Southern California and never actually see snow, but it truly fascinates me. Even if you’ve had your lifetime share of cold weather though, you’ll still probably love these photos of frost, snow and ice. Plus, if you actually read the text, you just might learn something new.

Link

December 15, 2008, South Waterfront neighborhood, Portland, Oregon. Looking from our condo we can see cars attempting, and most failing, to climb up a hill to get out of the neighborhood. I decided to put together a montage of sliding cars. Portland had a recent snowfall and we are expecting more tomorrow.

Might I add kudos for the excellent choice of theme music. -via Bits and Pieces

Large chunks of ice fall from an antenna during the Oklahoma ice storm. Look at the end of the clip and see the damage it made to someone’s vehicle.

Source: Youtube