Main content

Snow and Ice

From delicate ice crystal formation in the upper atmosphere to ancient polar ice cores that hold our climate history. Pennie Latin explores the science of snow and ice.

An intricate yet delicate six sided crystal floats down to earth. It becomes powerful enough to carve our landscape. It is cold enough to kill us and if it becomes unstable it can move at hundreds of miles per hour. All this, yet that crystal is composed of one of life's absolute essentials, water. This Brainwaves is all about the surprising, quirky and fascinating science behind something we all experience in a Scottish winter - Snow and Ice.

From the startling beauty of ice crystal formation to the science of drilling down to find the oldest ice on the planet. Pennie Latin climbs mountains, goes back in time and asks what makes the perfect snowball in this intriguing episode of Brainwaves that will make you look out the window wishing for the next snowfall.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Christmas Day 2018 07:30

Nine surprising facts about snow

Nine surprising facts about snow

Broadcasts

  • Wed 27 Dec 2017 13:30
  • Sun 31 Dec 2017 06:00
  • Christmas Day 2018 07:30

Featured in...

Podcast

Gallery