This peculiar phenomenon has a long history. It was first remarked on by Aristotle in the 4th century BC. "The fact that water has previously been warmed contributes to its freezing quickly; for so it cools sooner," he wrote. "Hence many people, when they want to cool hot water quickly, begin by putting it in the sun."rnThe effect was also known to Francis Bacon, who in 1620 wrote, "water slightly warm is more easily frozen than quite cold". Then in 1637rnRen￡ Descartes said, "Experience shows that water that has been kept for a long time on the fire freezes sooner than other water.
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