News & ViewsPublished: 16 March 2026ThermodynamicsBart Verberck1 Nature Physics (2026)Cite this articleSubjectsClimate changeFluid dynamicsStatistical physics, thermodynamics and nonlinear dynamicsImages of floating icebergs have become symbolic for climate change, as they relate to glacial melting and rising sea levels on a global scale. Yet, the local effects of melting ice in seas and lakes are not well understood. For example, it is unclear how long a piece of ice lasts in water before it melts, and what impact its melting has on its surrounding environment. These questions have now been investigated by Daisuke Noto and Hugo Ulloa (Sci. Adv. 12, eady3529; 2026), whose findings highlight how floating ice can accelerate mass transport.To monitor both the evolution of the melting ice piece and the flow dynamics of the surrounding water in real time, thermochromic liquid crystals were put into the tank. Because they scatter light from the visual spectrum with the frequency depending on temperature, they could be used for making a thermal map of the water in the tank. The picture shows a cross-sectional thermal image of the tank with bluish colours corresponding to warmer temperatures and reddish colours to colder regions; the black blob is the melting ice sphere.This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institutionAccess optionsAccess Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journalsGet Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription27,99 € / 30 dayscancel any timeLearn moreSubscribe to this journalReceive 12 print issues and online access269,00 € per yearonly 22,42 € per issueLearn moreRent or buy this articlePrices vary by article typefrom$1.95to$39.95Learn morePrices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkoutAuthor informationAuthors and AffiliationsNature Physics https://www.nature.com/nphys/Bart VerberckAuthorsBart VerberckView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarCorresponding authorCorrespondence to Bart Verberck.Rights and permissionsReprints and permissionsAbout this article