# The Fingers of Death (DD-264)

> A brinicle is a hollow tube of ice that grows downward from sea ice in polar waters. As seawater freezes, salt is expelled as very cold, dense brine, which sinks and freezes the less salty seawater around it, forming a tube. If it reaches the seabed, ice can spread across the bottom and trap slow-moving animals such as sea stars and sea urchins. A BBC crew filmed one forming in Antarctica in 2011 for the series Frozen Planet. The footage shows a brinicle growing and spreading, with the presenter.

- Department: Nature (also Science)
- First published: 2024-07-05
- Last updated: 2024-07-05
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-fingers-of-death/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## On the timeline

- **2011**: A BBC crew films a brinicle forming in Antarctica

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=the-fingers-of-death

## Quick facts

- **DD-264-F01**: A brinicle is a hollow ice tube. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Ice tube))_
- **DD-264-F02**: Cold dense brine sinks from sea ice. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Brine))_

## Write-up

Brinicles are tubes of ice that grow down from sea ice. When they reach the seabed, they can trap slow animals.

1. **Ice tube**: A brinicle is a hollow ice tube.
2. **Brine**: Cold dense brine sinks from sea ice.
3. **Freezing**: It freezes surrounding seawater.
4. **Seabed**: It can trap animals on the seabed.
5. **Filmed 2011**: The BBC filmed one in 2011.

## Related case files

- [Iceberg Blue (DD-299)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/iceberg-blue/): I linked more polar ice

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed.

## Video: The Fingers of Death: Brinicles Are Tubes of Ice That Grow Down From Sea Ice

- Duration: 22.8 s · Published: 2024-07-05
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/C9D7VeWKGEB.mp4

### Transcript

DID YOU KNOW? Brinicles are often called ice stalactites, and they're a fascinating underwater phenomenon that forms in polar regions, with extremely cold, dense brine created by the freezing of sea ice, sinks to the ocean floor, and freezes the surrounding seawater. This creates a tube-like structure of ice that extends downward, known as a brinicle. As it grows, it traps and freezes everything in its path, creating a surreal and deadly underwater landscape. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: What is a brinicle?**  
A: Under sea ice. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Ice tube) · Wikipedia: Brinicle)_

**Q: What sinks to form it?**  
A: Expelled salt. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Brine) · Wikipedia: Brinicle)_

**Q: Where do they form?**  
A: Under sea ice. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Freezing) · Wikipedia: Brinicle)_

**Q: What can they trap?**  
A: Sea stars. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Seabed) · Wikipedia: Brinicle)_

**Q: Who filmed one in 2011?**  
A: Frozen Planet. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Filmed 2011) · Wikipedia: Brinicle)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Brinicle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brinicle)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "The Fingers of Death." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-264, last updated Jul 5, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-fingers-of-death/