Texas Snow Isn’t Fake

Deja Tyla Hansen

Science

22nd February 2021

Some of the snow is actually ice, which is more dense than traditional snow (Getty Images).

The Claim

Texas’ Snow is Fake and Made by the Government

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Emerging story

On February 16th, Facebook user Chasity Williams posted a series of videos regarding the snow in Texas. “Tf wrong wit the snow?!!!!??” she asked.

In the videos, multiple social media users are saying that the snow isn’t melting and may be the result of “alien technology” or “government generation.” William's post has received more than 10K shares.

Similar posts have surfaced across the internet. In other videos, Texas residents are attempting to melt the snow using lighters. They say that the snow is not melting and are showing what appears to be burn marks. One individual even went as far as saying “This is the masons [sic] way,” and called the event “A Domestic Attack [sic] in the likes we have never seen.”

Misbar’s Analysis

Texas citizens aren't the first to suspect fake snow. In a 2014 article, astronomer and science writer Phil Plait explains what exactly is happening to this snow. In his article, he states the following:

“Two things happen,” he writes. “One is that as the snow melts, the remaining snow absorbs the water. That’s why it doesn’t appear to drip; the snowball becomes a slushball.”

He also explains the black marks on the snow by stating “…black scorch marks are actually from the lighters themselves. Butane is a hydrocarbon, a molecule made up of carbon and hydrogen. When you burn it, the molecule reacts with oxygen in the air, breaking the bonds between atoms, and reforming new molecules. If the burning were perfect, all you’d have left is carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H20).”

Other scientists have expressed that some of the snow is actually ice, which is more dense than traditional snow. And since snow and ice have different properties, they will react in different ways when heat is applied, especially when compressed into snowballs, as shown in the videos.

With this information, Misbar finds this claim to be false.