Frost Flowers near the North Pole
Good Day, God!
My wonderful husband Kit sent me the link to an NPR story about Frost Flowers. Amazing! These crystalline ice structures pop up out of the central Arctic Ocean when conditions are just right. I am not at all clear what “right” means. The article makes it sound like the air needs to be extremely cold and extremely dry — thus to pull into the ice little bumps of moisture. Since it is too cold for the moisture to stay suspended in air, as it turns back into ice it takes a crystalline form, like snowflakes.
All of this was delightful enough, God. But, the article also tells that these frost flowers are three times as salty as regular ocean water and surprisingly full of bacteria.
A photo of frost flowers grown in a lab
I know we have found bacteria in all sorts of extreme habitats. Still, apparently, the scientists are curious about just what these bacteria are doing in their extremely cold and salty homes.
So, I am sitting here — happy. Happy to have discovered Krulwich’s Wonders — a science based blog that was the source of this story. Happy to have discovered Frost Flowers. Happy to have seen them up close. And happy for all the bacteria in those frost flowers. Bacteria that seem to be happily going about the business of living. Good on them!
Life is amazing, God. And maybe it isn’t so very different for bacteria than it is for us? Surely, regardless of size and complexity, life is to be relished and lived! Thank You!
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
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