Science

Is it true that trees can explode if it gets cold enough?  This belief is persistent and can be traced back several hundred years.  However, there is good cause for skepticism here!

As the theory goes, sap - which is a liquid - expands when it freezes.  If it expands far enough, fast enough, the tree would not have time to react, and explodes.  Many people report hearing loud bangs in the forest during cold snaps, said to be the sound of trees exploding.

(Of course, this could all simply be the work of the Splintercat!)