Summary of the Article: Water Turns to Ice Under Extreme Pressure
this article details the discovery of a new ice phase, dubbed “ice XXI,” created by subjecting water to incredibly high pressure – over 200 gigapascals (20,000 times atmospheric pressure). This pressure forces water to crystallize into ice without cooling.
Key takeaways:
* Pressure-Induced Crystallization: The process isn’t solely dependent on temperature; extreme pressure can rearrange hydrogen bonds in water molecules, forming a stable crystal structure (ice) even at room temperature.
* Cutting-Edge Technology: The discovery relied on a “dynamic diamond anvil cell” to rapidly compress water samples and a powerful free electron laser to observe the fleeting transformations.
* Ice XXI’s Unique Structure: ice XXI has a complex and large unit cell, showcasing the diverse arrangements possible for water molecules. Over 20 different ice phases have now been identified.
* Cosmic Relevance: The density of Ice XXI matches that of ice layers found deep within the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn, making this research crucial for understanding potential habitability in these environments.
* International Collaboration: The research was a collaborative effort involving scientists from five countries.
In essence, this research expands our understanding of water’s behavior under extreme conditions and provides valuable insights into the potential environments on distant icy moons.
