Why Fish Don't Freeze in the Arctic Ocean

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/08/25/why_fish_dont_freeze_in_the_arctic_ocean.html


Researchers have been interested in why fish don't freeze in the arctic ocean for a long time. The temperature of the arctic waters is about -1.8 degrees C which is -.9 degrees colder than a fish's freezing point. Scientists were able to find anti-freeze proteins in the blood of the fish which allowed the fish to stay alive in the freezing temperatures. Although they are still not completely sure how the protein works, they have figured out that it creates bonds with the water molecules. These bonds don't just connect with one water molecule from one protein, the proteins affects a large range of water molecules to form a "hydration shell".
This article was interesting to me because I think it is amazing that fish can withstand freezing temperatures. Everyday science is advancing to give us access to tools that are used to study the wonders of the world around us. There is so much to explore and so many things that we don't know, it is always fascinating to see what mysteries scientists are solving. I also chose this article because I think it is interesting to learn about what goes on in the aminals that we, as humans, share the Earth with. You can always look at the appearance of an animal on the outside, but you don't always have a chance to observe what is inside.