The Mpemba Effect

For all that we know about the physical world, there are a few phenomena that, though seemingly simple, continue to baffle us.

And one of the most baffling is the Mpemba Effect.

You may not know it by that name—I didn't until I read an article on New Scientist's website last week—but you've probably heard about it. Heck, you may even have gotten in an argument about it.

The Mpemba Effect is the proper name of the counterintuitive fact that sometimes hot water freezes faster than cold water.

As...