How does this work?

Question

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfkHS_58yvs

I didn't see anything fall in or anything. What happened?

Answer 1

It's a real phenomena. I've seen it happen before when I stored a biological saline solution at about -1ºC. When you agitate the solution, it freezes.

Essentially, it's a process called super cooling. I don't know exactly how the freezing happens. But classical example involves introducing a "nucleation" site, in the form of an ice cube, or even some sand, i.e. somewhere for the ice crystals to start to form on. My guess is that water crystals have formed somewhere above the actual surface of the solution. When you shake the liquid, the water crystal falls in, which sets off the crystallization/solidification.

Answer 2

What ever is under the surface they struck the beer on is extremely cold, as it lowered the temperature of the beer much below the point of freezing. Liquid nitrogen? I do not know. Perhaps someone will come along who is knowledgeable in this area.

Answer 3

it's fake