Oh, for the love of frogs!

It happened this week—a subtle, undeniable shift in the air.

The days are stretching out just a little longer.

Light past 5pm! Actual, real daylight!

Naturally, this sent me spiralling into deep, existential thoughts about nature (as one does).

Daffodils are limbering up for their grand entrance, and the dawn chorus is warming up like an orchestra tuning up behind the curtains.

Spring is creeping in.

And with it: frogs will wake up.

Cue a shocking revelation at the family dinner table.

Frogs hibernate? Came the immediate question.

It seemed like squirrels stashing nuts, hedgehogs curling into leafy burritos, and bears emerging from their holes on nature programs made the memory bank on hibernating creatures. But frogs? Somehow, that had slipped into the abyss of the unknown.

Yes, frogs hibernate to survive cold winters.

And some frogs don’t just hibernate—in the harshest winters they can freeze solid. Like little froggy ice cubes.

So how does a frogsicle survive?

I’m sure you’ve frozen something before and been horrified at how it thawed. (Strawberries, I’m looking at you.)

They turn to mush because ice crystals form inside their cells, puncturing the cell walls like tiny daggers.

When they thaw, their structure collapses, and they become a sad, squishy mess.

If that happened to a frozen frog?

It wouldn’t wake up in spring—it’d just be an ex-frog.

But wood frogs? They’re built different. Instead of letting their cells get wrecked by ice, they flood their bodies with glucose, turning their insides into biological antifreeze.

Water gets pushed out of their cells, where ice forms in a controlled way, keeping the cells themselves intact.

Their heart? Stops beating.

Lungs? Shut down.

Brain? Offline.

They are, for all intents and purposes, dead.

Except… not really.

In extreme hibernation mode, frozen frogs don’t need to breathe. They just…exist. Suspended in time, like a bad Zoom call.

As temperatures rise, the ice melts, their organs boot back up, and they just hop away like nothing happened.

Which is, frankly, absurd.

Why should you care?

At the very least, it’s prime coffee-break conversation material.

(You’re welcome!)

And if you get looked at like you’re auditioning for lead commentator in the next series of "Nature Watch", don't worry. Scientists are actually studying these tiny amphibian Houdinis to figure out how to:

🐸 Preserve human organs for transplants (frozen frog magic = life-saving science).

🐸 Develop better cryogenic techniques (from food preservation to fertility treatment and genetic breakthroughs).

🐸 Maybe even freeze astronauts (hello, deep space travel).

The point of this amphibian-induced wonder?

To spark curiosity from what we see around us—whether that's in the natural world or something else entirely.

And if you're eyeing a top university, this kind of super-curricular curiosity is exactly what they love.

Not into frogs? No problem! Here are a few other topics to dive into for rainy day research and discussion over dinner:

🌱 Biology – Could we ever create a fully artificial cell?

→ Explore synthetic biology and the potential for lab-grown life.

🥽 Chemistry – Can we turn waste into energy?

→ From recycling CO2 to creating bio-plastics—what’s next for sustainable chemistry?

🔬 Physics – Could we ever build a real-life lightsaber?

→ Plasma physics and high-energy containment—how close are we to sci-fi becoming reality?

➗ Maths – Why is infinity not just a really big number?

→ Dive into set theory and the different types of infinity.

💻 Computer Science – Could a quantum computer break every password?

→ The future of encryption—are our secrets safe?

🌍 Geography – Can we ever stop natural disasters?

→ Earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanoes—can we control or prevent them?

🏛 History – Why do some historical events get forgotten while others are remembered?

→ Memory, power, and influence—what makes certain events stand the test of time?

📖 English Literature – Can a book change the world?

→ “1984,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Communist Manifesto”—how has literature shaped history?

🎨 Art & Design – Why do certain colours make us feel things?

→ Colour psychology in advertising, film, and branding—why do fast-food chains love red and yellow?

🗣 Languages – How do languages shape the way we think?

→ Does speaking two languages actually change your brain?

🧠 Philosophy – Why do humans create art?

→ Is it for self-expression, survival, or something deeper within our nature?

🎵 Music – Why do some songs get stuck in your head?

→ The science of earworms—why can’t you stop humming that annoying tune?

So next time you see a frog, take a moment to marvel at its survival skills.

Science is weird. And brilliant. And full of frogs.

Nici

P.S.

Got a curious mind?

What have you noticed lately that sparks your curiosity?

Share your thoughts! 🐸