New Scientist's Last Word series invites readers to answer each other's science questions. A recent installment asks why water cannot be cooled as quickly as it can be heated. The article, part 2 of the discussion, presents a selection of reader responses.
The responses give scientific answers to the question, continuing an exchange that began in part 1. Because the series relies on reader contributions, the explanations reflect a range of perspectives and experiences.
The question itself is familiar to anyone who has waited for a hot drink to cool. The reader answers aim to explain the physical principles behind the asymmetry between heating and cooling.