How do you think the salt, sugar and sand will affect how quickly the ice cubes melt? Set the drinking glasses aside somewhere indoors, out of direct sunlight. Watch the ice cubes over time ...

Add one ice cube to each container. Time how long it takes for the ice cube to completely melt. Measure and record the temperature of the water in each container once the ice has completely melted.

His high school chemistry students had drawn diagrams of what was happening ... won’t need for their tests. For me, the melting ice cube is a dramatic tale. This is why I love science - to ...

Update: At Inverse‘s request, Fenty ran the cube’s dimensions through his ice climate model. He estimates that in full exposure to sunlight, the cube will survive around 30 to 40 days.