What is ice for?

What is the significance of ice? Could you explain its purpose and applications? I'm curious to know what role it plays in our daily lives. Does it serve solely as a means to cool down beverages or does it have further utilities? Could you elaborate on the various ways in which ice is utilized and its importance in different contexts? I'm particularly interested in its practical uses beyond the obvious ones. Thank you for your insights on this intriguing subject matter.