Cubic ice transitioning to hexagonal: not as esoteric as we thought

There is much debate around the temperature and conditions at which metastable cubic ice forms and transitions to hexagonal ice. Recently, a third form existing at one atmosphere, known as stacking disorder ice, has also been discussed. There is no doubt that these forms of ice are significant in atmospheric science as they may even be the dominant form of ice in some clouds. However, do they play any role in cryobiology? We have recently learned how to make cubic ice in large quantities in such a way that the second order phase transition is readily analysed. The results presented here will enable cryobiology researchers to look with renewed interest at both historical data and new results in order to define the importance, or otherwise, of cubic ice in their work.