News Physics Here’s why icicles made from pure water don’t form ripples The skewers grow drop by drop instead of via a coat of water like their salty counterparts Most icicles in nature are made from water and a little salt. Over time, small bumps in the ice grow into large ripples because liquid water coating the ice is thinner above the bumps and can freeze more readily. Adam Guidebeck/500px/Getty Images Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterPinterestPocketRedditPrint By Emily Conover February 15, 2023 at 8:00 am Icicles made from pure water give scientists brain freeze.