Someone in the Northwest Territories uploaded a video to YouTube showing how to make snow with boiling water… I know, finally someone found a use for the Internet besides spreading Mayan propaganda and killing off the music industry.

Basically a woman in Yellowknife, with her Australian friend filming her, poured boiling water into a measuring cup and then threw the water into the -30C air.

Instantly the water became a white cloud, which I think was just the steam coming off the airborne hot water, but on the way down the water flash-froze and became trails of snow.

One of the 2.9 million people who watched the short film left a comment describing the science behind the experiment, but all I can remember is it has to be done when it’s nut-cracking / ovary-shattering cold. I should probably start taking notes again.

So after watching it a few times I boiled some water and, at 3am, threw it off my balcony. And it turned into snow. Then I did it four or five more times.

The next day I showed off to my girlfriend and her oldest son, who was home sick with a head cold. They were both impressed.

YouTube Warning: horizontal stripes add forty pounds.

According to the Weather Network the Vankleek Hill region hit a frosty -25C when I was showing off. But for the next few weeks we’ll be flirting with par, weather wise. So it’s basically time to break out the T-shirts and shorts, and any further experimentation might have to wait until next year.

Which sucks… because *I just figured out how to make it infinitely more awesome*.

…add a touch of food colouring, or your favourite Kool-Aid colour, I just did it with strawberry. So basically I just shot two Litres of boiling red water off my second floor balcony, and in less than a second it turned into a giant, floating blood-pink mist.

Just like what I frequently imagine a real-world Grand Theft Auto IV would look like.

I’m pretty sure if my neighbours saw me doing it they’d be calling the police. I’m going to try it again during the sunrise. Science… fun.

.

.