Water Freezing Below Zero: Cold Hardy Insects, Oil Pipelines and Antarctic Fishes

Can we stop water from freezing? The talk will discuss this process and look at applications in freeze tolerant animals such as Antarctic fishes, in oil pipelines and other scenarios where supercooling is commonplace.
Presented by Professor Peter Wilson, Associate Dean (Global Engagement), University of Tasmania.

Abstract

Water can still be liquid well below 0 °C (called supercooled) and if some is held at, say, -6 °C when will it freeze? Can we stop it from freezing? The talk will discuss the measurement of this process and look at applications in freeze tolerant animals such as Antarctic fishes, in oil pipelines and other scenarios where this phase transition is commonplace. The concept of supercooling is important in the field of methane hydrates and so energy for the future of Earth and Professor Wilson will look briefly at this also.
Enquiries: stanislav.shabala@utas.edu.au