Fake Snow?

Snow. I have seen enough of this stuff to last me a lifetime. This has been one of the WORST winter's on record. Hopefully, spring will come early this year. Highly doubtful though.

I saw a few videos online with the titles "Fake Snow", so I watched them. In the video, it shows people trying to melt snow with a standard lighter. The snow in the videos doesn't melt, it just turns black. Odd, eh?

I like conspiracy theories. Why? Because it keeps us thinking. It keeps our brains in tune with reality. It comes up with a possible different answer to a question. Is this snow actually fake? Are there chemicals in the snow? Some claim it is this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superabsorbent_polymer

Well, there are products out there that can make instant snow. Yep. It's true. Look here: http://snowinseconds.com

So, if it is possible to make snow this easily, why couldn't others make it on a larger scale? Ski resorts do it all the time. Also, some people have been claiming that after trying to melt this 'fake snow' that it smelled like chemicals. Could this 'fake snow' be made through a chemical reaction of sorts? Possibly.

Let's look at some facts...

Question: Why is it black after trying to burn it?
Answer: It's carbon left behind from incomplete combustion of the flame.

Question: Why is the snow not melting?
Answer: Snow and ice should start melting at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Typically, a disposable lighter runs about 450 degrees Fahrenheit, right? Well, let's look at boiling water... How long does it take to heat up? It doesn't happen right away, does it? This process is called "latent heat". Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latent_heat

My "Fake Snow" experiment:

Now, does this tell us that our snow is chem or radiation free? No, it does not. Might have to take a sample to a credible lab to find out. Just remember this, DON'T eat the green, glowing snow! Till next time...