This fungi is capable of freezing water! Here's everything to know

Who would have thought that the process of solidification that we were taught in schools was not foolproof? Yes, you read it right. We have always studied that once the temperature of water lowers to zero degrees, it starts freezing. But as we know, nature has its own ways of wronging us. One of the examples is of the water present inside clouds. Even at the low temperatures of minus 40 degrees, the super cool water inside clouds remains in its liquid state. As per researchers, even the purest of pure water does not leave its flowy nature on cooling down to minus 46 degrees Celsius. 

So the question that arises here is what does our favorite liquid require to freeze? 

To be called frozen, the molecules of water have to arrange themselves in a systematic way so that a crystalline structure is formed. However, this is not sufficient. One important aspect that we are missing here is the kinetic energy required in any natural process. An extra ounce of energy is required at the first step which is known as ice nucleation. The energy required for this step is huge. 

In order to arrange themselves in a crystalline structure, the water molecules need a nucleus. Here the nucleus refers to the point of initiation, or a place that serves as a base for the ice crystals to grow. This point of initiation can be a microorganism, a dust particle, or an ice particle. Since such nucleators are not present in pure water, it does not freeze easily; however, the tap water which is not so pure, freezes even at minus 5 degrees in the freezers of our refrigerators. 

Hence, the species that have the habitat of a cold environment are endangered as the pure water struggles to freeze. But again, nature never has its own ways of surprising us. The microorganisms present in the environment, like fungi, bacteria, and lichen manipulate the water so it forms ice easily. By forming molecular strategies, these microorganisms trigger the nucleation process in pure water. This unique process is named biological ice nucleation.

ALSO READ: What Is Cordyceps Fungus?

A team of scientists from the United States and Germany conducted a study in which they studied about the Fusarium acuminatum. The Fusarium acuminatum is a fungal plant pathogen and an ice-nucleator.

It was in the 1970s when the biological ice nucleation was spotted for the first time during the study of Pseudomonas syringae, the bacteria that can lead to various diseases in crops. The Pseudomonas syringae can lead to the formation of ice at temperatures falling below the melting point of water.

ALSO READ: Types of fungal infections: What are the Black Fungus, White Fungus, Yellow Fungus, and Green Fungus infections?

The process involves the bacteria to give rise to unique ice nucleation proteins surrounding the cell membranes. The proteins play the role of anchor points where water molecules begin to create ice crystals. Water freezes near these ice nucleation proteins.

On the other hand, the fungi lead to the production of highly efficient ice nucleators. These nucleators begin crystallizing at warm temperatures like minus 2 degrees C. 

ALSO READ: Can Fungi help reduce Climate Changes?

ALSO READ: What Is Candida auris? A Drug-Resistant Fungus. All You Need To Know