In the icy wilderness of Alaska, where temperatures plummet far below freezing, one tiny creature performs a feat that seems ripped from the pages of science fiction: the Alaskan Wood Frog doesn’t just survive winter, it freezes solid.

As the frost settles in, the frog’s body begins to shut down:

Its heart stops beating, and lungs cease to breathe.
Its blood no longer flows, and brain activity falls silent.
To any observer, it appears stone-cold dead.

The Glucose “Antifreeze” Mechanism

Before freezing, the wood frog performs a complex biochemical maneuver: it floods its tissues with glucose, which acts as a sugary antifreeze, protecting its cells from the lethal formation of ice crystals. While water outside the cells turns to ice, the vital inner workings remain intact—they are paused rather than destroyed.

This process is more than hibernation; it’s biological suspended animation.

The Astonishing Revival

When spring melts the frost, the wood frog thaws back to life. Its organs restart, its muscles twitch, and within hours, it hops away as if winter never happened. This is a real-life frozen miracle, revealing just how ingenious and resilient life on Earth can be.