Scientists discover a strange new form of ice that could help explain the interiors of Neptune and Uranus
Researchers have discovered a strange new form of ice operating under ultrahigh pressure conditions that could explain the internal environments of Neptune and Uranus. This exotic ice phase forms at extreme pressures reaching 219 Gigapascals and stays solid at temperatures exceeding 2,000 degrees Celsius or more than 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit. Laboratory experiments successfully recreated these conditions to observe the phase transition, pointing to the existence of superionic ice deep within the ice giant planets. The discovery provides crucial insight into the physical makeup and behavior of planetary interiors that were previously difficult to model.
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- ✓ Scientists discovered a strange new form of ice operating under ultrahigh pressure conditions.
- ✓ The exotic ice forms at 219 Gigapascals.
- ✓ The ice stays solid at temperatures above 2,000 degrees Celsius or more than 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit.
- ✓ Superionic ice could be found inside Uranus and Neptune to help explain their interiors.
What changed
Researchers successfully recreated and identified a new ultrahigh pressure phase transition in ice that remains solid above 2,000 degrees Celsius.
Live updates
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Scientists Discover New Form of Ice For Ice Giants
Researchers have discovered a strange new form of ice operating under ultrahigh pressure conditions that could explain the internal environments of Neptune and Uranus. This exotic ice phase forms at extreme pressures reaching 219 Gigapascals and stays solid at temperatures exceeding 2,000 degrees Celsius or more than 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit. Laboratory experiments successfully recreated these conditions to observe the phase transition, pointing to the existence of superionic ice deep within the ice giant planets. The discovery provides crucial insight into the physical makeup and behavior of planetary interiors that were previously difficult to model.
Why it matters
Ice giants such as Uranus and Neptune present extreme physical conditions that challenge standard terrestrial models. Understanding how water and other compounds behave under multi-gigapascal pressures helps scientists decode planetary magnetic fields and internal structures. This newly documented ultrahigh pressure phase transition expands our knowledge of extreme material science.
What is confirmed
- Scientists discovered a strange new form of ice operating under ultrahigh pressure conditions.
- The exotic ice forms at 219 Gigapascals.
- The ice stays solid at temperatures above 2,000 degrees Celsius or more than 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Superionic ice could be found inside Uranus and Neptune to help explain their interiors.
What to watch next
- Further laboratory experiments detailing the structural properties of the 219 Gigapascal ice phase
- Planetary modeling updates incorporating superionic ice to explain Uranus and Neptune magnetic fields
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (6)
- Phys.org — Scientists discover a strange new form of ice that could help explain the interiors of Neptune and Uranus
- heise online — At 219 Gigapascals: Exotic ice from the interior of ice giants
- gizmodo.com — Scientists Tried Recreating Uranian and Neptunian Ice. Here’s What Happened
- Nature — Ultrahigh pressure phase transition in ice
- ZME Science — Scientists Made Ice Stay Solid Above 2,000°C. The 'Superionic Ice' Could Be Found Inside Uranus and Neptune
- www.dexerto.com — Scientists discover a new type of ice that forms at more than 3,600°F
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