Biology
Physiological Mechanisms of Freeze Tolerance in Wood Frogs
Quick fact
Wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) can survive up to 65% of their body water freezing, and their hearts stop for weeks. They do this by flooding their cells with glucose, which acts as a natural antifreeze, and by controlling where ice forms. Ice grows only in extracellular spaces, drawing water out of cells and preventing lethal ice crystals from forming inside them.
Why this is interesting
Imagine a frog that can survive being frozen solid, with no heartbeat or breathing, then hop away after thawing. How is that possible?