Why do some frogs freeze solid and thaw back to life?
The Freeze-and-Wake Frog
Why do some frogs freeze solid and thaw back to life?
Most animals run from winter. They fly south, dig deep, or hide in caves. But in the frozen forests of Alaska and Canada, the wood frog does something almost impossible: it lets winter kill it. Sort of.
When temperatures drop below freezing, ice crystals start forming inside the frog's body. Its heart slows. Then stops. Its lungs stop. No breathing. No heartbeat. Up to 70% of the water in its body turns to solid ice. By every normal measure, the frog is dead.
