Why Did This Ice Cube Grow a Spike? #teamwater When water freezes rapidly under supercooled conditions, an intriguing phenomenon can occur: the formation of ice spikes. As the surface of the water quickly solidifies, it often traps a small opening, leaving a tiny hole in the ice sheet. Because water expands as it freezes, the ice growing beneath the surface pushes the remaining liquid water up through this hole. This water then freezes around the edges, gradually building a hollow, tapering spik