A strange new phenomenon of “exploding trees” seems to have intrigued much of America, taking over both the media and society’s grasp on the biological properties within trees. Though not a formal scientific term, exploding trees are a new observation in the colder regions of the United States, which have caused booms that have been heard from homes, schools, and public parks nationwide.

The term “exploding tree” is a bit of an exaggeration—this term is used to describe when trees violently split, crack, or burst apart, usually during extreme weather. In fact, the scientific term is “frost cracks.” Typically, trees are able to endure severe conditions; the National Forest Foundation explains that trees ordinarily survive the cold winter months with their protective layer of bark, dropping their leaves (or having needle leaves which do not require dropping), and slowly increasing their cold tolerance at the cellular level. 

WCNC Charlotte explained how these “explosions” work, detailing, “Inside a tree, moisture and sap expand and contract with temperature changes.” As the freezing air enters the tree, the outer layers of bark begin to cool and contract at a far faster rate than the warmer inner wood. This discrepancy causes intense internal stress, and when the pressure overwhelms the tree, the wood spontaneously splits, which causes a loud cracking or popping sound that many people interpret as an explosion.

Despite the fact that these trees aren’t exactly blowing to bits as many may have thought, the word explosion is not too far from the truth. USA Today broke down the viral anomaly, explaining, “While it might look like trees are suddenly ‘exploding,’ that’s not necessarily what’s happening. Frost cracks are actually occasionally the real reason behind trees breaking.” These openings can run the full length of the tree and extend deep into the wood, ultimately causing permanent damage, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) claims.

“I keep seeing these TikTok dramatizations of the exploding trees,” notes Delilah F., a junior at Greeley. “A lot of what I see online is super confusing and conflicting, so understanding what’s actually happening feels super important to me.” This idea is true for so many people, as most don’t understand the science behind this phenomenon. Luckily, Popular Science provides some explanation: apparently, most of the U.S. eucalyptus trees that are now known for their spontaneous explosions are not native to the U.S., but rather hail from Australia. In fact, these trees are also often saturated with very flammable eucalyptus oil, which turns them into tree bombs.

CNN furthers this explanation, describing how the expansion and cracking of these trees “produc[es] a loud bang that may sound like an explosion.” Seemingly, people should be more concerned about the heavy ice accumulations on trees than the frost cracks, as these accumulations could cause branches to fall off the trees or snap, which is far more dangerous than internal cracking.

So, everyone can rest assured that their backyard trees won’t suddenly blow to bits. “I think that reading a little more about it and not just trusting TikTok has helped me feel more confident that I won’t be randomly hurt by a tree explosion,” says Delilah.

While the viral phenomenon of “exploding trees” may sound alarming, the reality is far less dramatic—these frost cracks are simply a natural result of extreme temperature fluctuations and pose minimal direct danger to people. Understanding the science behind these dramatic sounds can help separate media sensationalism from the actual risks of winter weather.