The Science of -40 Degrees: When Scales Collide

If you are ever in weather so cold that it reaches -40 degrees, you don't need to specify Fahrenheit or Celsius. They are exactly the same number. This is the only point where the two scales intersect.

The Math Behind the Intersection

The conversion formula is F = (C * 1.8) + 32. If you plug in -40 for C, you get: (-40 * 1.8) + 32 = -72 + 32 = -40.

What Does -40 Feel Like?

At this temperature, exposed skin can freeze in under five minutes. Boiling water thrown into the air will instantly turn into snow (the Mpemba effect). It is a temperature typically only found in the Arctic, Antarctic, and parts of Siberia and Northern Canada/Alaska during deep winter.