Can extreme winter really cause trees to 'explode'? The science behind the viral phenomenon
Across the world, winter’s sudden freezes trigger sharp, gunshot-like cracks in trees, known as frost cracking. While branches may fall, fully “exploding” trees are extremely rare. Experts stress most cracks are harmless and self-heal, and caution that some dramatic viral videos are staged or manipulated for virality, rather than showing real danger.
Across the world, winter’s sudden freezes trigger sharp, gunshot-like cracks in trees, known as frost cracking. While branches may fall, fully “exploding” trees are extremely rare. Experts stress most cracks are harmless and self-heal, and caution that some dramatic viral videos are staged or manipulated for virality, rather than showing real danger.
