Brinicles: Icicles o' Death

Brinicles, also known as 'icicles of death,' are fascinating ice formations that occur in polar seas. They form when super cold, saline brine escapes from sea ice, sinking and freezing the surrounding seawater. This process creates a fragile ice tube that can trap and freeze marine life. Discovered in the 1960s, brinicles were first observed in detail through a BBC documentary. Their study is challenging due to harsh Arctic conditions, but they offer intriguing insights into oceanic processes.

How have scientists' understandings of brinicles evolved since the 1960s?

What conditions make the study of brinicles challenging for scientists?