Ice-Nine

Dr. Felix Hoenikker's final invention is a unique variation of the ice crystal called Ice-nine. The crystal has a melting point of 114 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning it is solid at room temperature. Even more crucial, Ice-nine is solid at body temperature, instantly freezing all the water in a person's tissues and killing them on contact. An incredibly destructive secret weapon, Ice-nine symbolizes the destructive power of the nuclear bomb.

The Cat's Cradle

On the day his devastating invention is unleashed, Dr. Felix Hoenikker tries to play with his six-year-old son Newton for the first and only time. The man creates a cat's cradle with string. The ancient children's game is a sham. There is no cat and no cradle, just a bunch of x's made of string. The cat's cradle symbolizes all the elaborate belief systems that humans construct in order to give meaning to life, including religion...