Winter Pearls

Laura Brownlee of Stillwater, N.J. spent last weekend taking advantage of the freezing temperatures to do some frozen bubble experiments.

"Almost immediately after the bubble is blown, ice crystals begin to form inside. It's a challenge to get the bubble to adhere to any surface without popping," said Brownlee. "After a few minutes, swirls start to cloud the bubble which signals the bubble will soon pop. Once it does, some fragments break off, but mostly the edges get sucked inside causing the bubble to resemble a glass bowl. Inside the bowl, fossil-like crystals are embedded in the 'shell', which remains intact until touched, when it immediately disintegrates."

— Photos by Laura Brownlee