Posted: Aug 23, 08 1:44pm

http://scienceblogs.com/greengabbro/2008/08/the_igneous_petrology_of_ice_c.php

This was sent to me by (of course) geologist friends. The blogger makes a strong case.

Here's the opening 'graph:

Ice cream is an igneous rock. You begin with a liquid slurry containing a hodgepodge of chemicals, and by bringing it below its freezing point, you create something solid - or at least solid-ish. Good ice cream or sorbet needs a little give, a bit of liquid remaining between ice crystals so that you can comfortably dig into it with a spoon.