❄️Scientists Create Superionic Ice at 2,000°C
Ice that's hotter than lava? Yep, and it's weird
TL;DR
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh created superionic ice, a form of ice that's stable at temperatures above 2,000°C. This discovery could explain the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune. The team used diamonds and lasers to achieve the extreme conditions needed.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have created superionic ice, a form of ice that's stable at temperatures above 2,000°C. This discovery could explain the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune. The team used diamonds and lasers to apply pressures up to 230 gigapascals and heat samples to thousands of degrees, observing a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) crystal structure that transitions into superionic ice. This ice is neither entirely solid nor liquid, with oxygen atoms fixed in a rigid lattice and hydrogen nuclei mobile. The findings suggest hcp ice may become the more stable arrangement of superionic ice at pressures above 200 gigapascals.
Key Points
Scientists used diamonds to apply pressures up to 230 gigapascals.
Laser heating reached temperatures up to 2,630 kelvins.
The team observed a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) crystal structure.
Superionic ice is stable at pressures above 200 gigapascals.
The findings are published in Physical Review Letters.
Why It Matters
If you're studying planetary science or extreme conditions, superionic ice is a game changer. It could explain the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune, and its unique properties might lead to new materials science breakthroughs. The team's use of diamonds and lasers to achieve these conditions opens up new avenues for research.
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