Much of America's Midwest region is experiencing an extreme cold temperature owing to polar vortex. The temperature plummeted so fast that the Chicago River has been frozen and to make sure trains were running smoothly, officials had to set fire on the tracks to keep it snow and ice free. The sub-zero temperature has forced most Midwesterners to stuck at home this week, but looking at the social media, it seems boredom has led to some bizarre challenges and stunts online. Most that involve throwing boiling water in the air as it freezes instantly, yes, a cool science experiment but if not done right could be harmful. ALSO READ | Donald Trump gets roasted after asking ‘global waming’ to come back fast Temperatures in Chicago, one of the worst affected areas, for example, reached below minus 25 degrees in several places, prompting the hashtag #Chiberia on Twitter. It's freezing cold outside but for the thrill and some social media fame, people are braving the cold and going outdoors to throw hot water in the air and watch it fly away as frosty vapours. In case, you're interested, it's a scientific phenomenon known as the Mpemba effect. Boiling water freezing before it hits the ground. -21° F pic.twitter.com/qiPpD1ZEPX — Jeff Friedman (@thefriedmanfirm) January 30, 2019 Boiling water freezes before it hits the ground. -22/-49 windchill in Chicago. #Chicago #Jaden #chiberia pic.twitter.com/UPYVjloGBk — clay carroll (@Clay_Carroll) January 30, 2019 How a science teacher passes the time in a snow day. 🥶 AccuWeather records current air temp at -21°F and wind-chill at -46°F If you do this, make sure you toss it so that the wrong doesn't blow the boiling water back into you. pic.twitter.com/06M61HEa9l — Kathy Peake Morton (@kathyamorton) January 30, 2019 Ross + boiling water + -22 degrees pic.twitter.com/tWLzGr47hD — Kelly Teeselink (@kellyteese) January 30, 2019 At home experiment Boiling Water transformed by freezing cold💦💧❄️ #noschool #stilllearning #winterfun pic.twitter.com/3CY9RoxsiE — Eric Wiggins (@ELWiggins728) January 30, 2019 At -29 it’s officially cold enough to turn boiling water into snow! pic.twitter.com/FkGb3MmQoj — Christopher Ingraham (@_cingraham) January 29, 2019 Some people gave it a cooler twist by using water guns, and the results are quite amusing. Boiling water droplets quickly freezing into ice crystals. -19 degree fun. Caution: boiling water will burn if not careful. pic.twitter.com/hJ3doP48nn — Finley Math (@FinleyMath) January 30, 2019 #PolarVortex Or as we call it in Minnesota.Tuesday Embraced my inner 6 year old at -33F earlier today pic.twitter.com/5P3Ht3WWy3 — Andy Potter (@stalefarts) January 30, 2019 Boiling water. SuperSoaker. Oven mitts. Let’s go. #polarvortex pic.twitter.com/xLf8H0wqD4 — A Scribe Called Quest (@StarrburyMike) January 30, 2019 Few tried it to take it to the next level by freezing bubbles! freezing bubble pic.twitter.com/e9mzK7zLT6 — C. Andrew Frank (@CAndrewFrank) January 30, 2019 here’s my brother blowing a bubble while it’s freezing pic.twitter.com/dk8ToERWxx — jaden🍒 (@gaydenwalker) January 30, 2019 #PolarVortex Blew bubbles, they freeze in air, change from a clear bubble to a semi-opaque ice-colored object that sometimes break and shrink to a wispy frozen shell. Some, however, retain shape and land frozen. pic.twitter.com/Mn4WzDTB81 — Gregory Humphrey (@dekeriverscp) January 30, 2019 Sadly, the boiling water experiment did not end well with many and instead of frostbite, they ended with burns and blisters. Boiling water gone BAD in #Chiberia pic.twitter.com/mSNHs0P9Sv — CHRIS (@OHKAYCHRIS) January 30, 2019 When you let the foreigner participate in the boiling water challenge almost ends in a ride to the emergency room. #NZ pic.twitter.com/7p3NrYLLxI — Kassandra Drey (@drey_kassie) January 30, 2019 This is definitely a burn, not frostbite..On my first attempt at the boiling water experiment. 🤬 #PolarVortex #wxtwitter pic.twitter.com/ghizyNJRND — Keya 🙇🏿♀️ (@wxwoc) January 30, 2019 Boiling water challenge gone wrong #PolarVotex #Chiberia pic.twitter.com/pPKcbvlA0X — AJ (@ajaxpik) January 30, 2019 Although it appears very cool, it's safe to say don’t throw boiling water into the wind!
