As the Arctic becomes a region of growing strategic competition, operating in its harsh environment remains a major challenge.
Extremely low temperatures, ice buildup, and unpredictable weather can affect everything from vehicles and aircraft to equipment and infrastructure.
To tackle these challenges, scientists are turning to nature for inspiration.
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland are studying special molecules that interact with ice.
Their goal is to design new materials that can control how ice forms or melts, potentially helping the United States operate more effectively in extremely cold environments.
This research is part of a program run by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), called Ice Control for Cold Environments.
The project aims to understand how living organisms survive freezing conditions and then apply those lessons to technology.
APL is contributing through a project known as BOREAS, which stands for Bio-Optimized Regulation of Environmental Ice for Arctic Supremacy.
The project focuses on creating tools that allow scientists to manipulate ice formation using specially designed molecules and proteins.
One part of the research involves building a large collection of synthetic polymers. Polymers are long chains of molecules that can be designed with different chemical side groups. By changing these structures, scientists can influence how the polymers interact with water and ice.
The team has created hundreds of these molecules and tested how they affect ice formation. In one surprising experiment, researchers discovered that a sugar-based compound often used in cosmetics behaved in an unexpected way. Instead of preventing ice, it actually encouraged ice crystals to grow.
When the scientists placed this compound on a chilled surface and exposed it to humid air, ice formed exactly where the polymer was applied. To demonstrate the effect, they painted the letters “APL” on a surface using the material. When the surface was placed in a cold, humid chamber, ice quickly grew in the shape of those letters.
At the same time, another team at APL led by molecular biologist Will Stone is studying proteins that influence ice formation. Some proteins help ice begin forming, while others—called antifreeze proteins—prevent ice crystals from growing. These proteins naturally occur in organisms such as polar fish, which use them to keep their blood from freezing.
Interestingly, the researchers believe combining these two types of proteins could actually produce stronger and more controlled ice crystals. Ice-nucleating proteins can act as a template that helps water molecules arrange into ice, while antifreeze proteins can stabilize the crystals as they form.
To find the most promising combinations, the team used machine learning to search large databases of protein sequences. Out of about 14,000 candidates, they selected just over 100 proteins and paired them together in thousands of possible combinations for testing.
The scientists then developed new laboratory techniques that allow them to test hundreds or even thousands of samples quickly. One of the most advanced methods uses tiny droplets of liquid that contain individual molecules. These droplets can be rapidly cooled so researchers can observe how each molecule influences ice formation.
Although the work is still in its early stages, the discoveries could lead to many practical uses. Future materials might help prevent ice buildup on aircraft wings, create stronger ice structures for cold-region construction, or protect people from frostbite. Scientists are also exploring medical applications, including ways to store medicines or even blood at freezing temperatures for long periods.
By learning how nature controls ice, researchers hope to develop technologies that can perform reliably even in the world’s coldest environments.
