Is it really cold outside? If so, it’s the perfect time to go outdoors and blow bubbles! All you need is bubble solution, a bubble wand or a straw, and really cold temperatures. Aim for a day when it’s no warmer than 20° F (-6°C). It helps if you blow the bubbles close to a cold surface, so they don’t freeze in the air and break upon landing. You can catch bubbles on mittens/gloves or on snow or ice. A frost pattern forms on the bubble surface. The bubbles will eventually pop, but with a bit of practice you should be able to pick them up and examine them first.
Any bubble solution will work. You can make your own detergent and water solution or make stronger bubbles by adding a bit of glycerin or corn syrup to the mixture.
Frozen Bubbles With Dry Ice
If you don’t have seriously cold winter, your other option is to blow bubbles over dry ice. The solid carbon dioxide is cold enough to freeze the water in the bubbles and make frost patterns. Because dry ice undergoes sublimation into carbon dioxide vapor, the bubbles hover in the chilled air for easy observation.
Watch Bubbles Freeze in Real Time
Many of us live in climate where it never gets cold enough to do this project. Here’s what it looks like in real time. If you ever get the chance to visit the frozen north (or south), be sure to bring a bottle of bubble solution so you can try this yourself!