23 September 2026 18:07 |
Last updated: 23 September 18:19 2026
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French scientists have discovered a novel type of hot, high-density ice capable of melting steel under immense pressure. This peculiar form of ice may exist deep within Uranus and Neptune, providing explanations for the unusual magnetic fields of these planets.
A team of researchers from France has unveiled a new and unusual form of ice that is not only highly dense but also remarkably warm, allowing it to melt through steel under extreme conditions—specifically, pressures equating to two million times that of Earth’s atmosphere. Led by Alexis Forrester from the French Atomic Energy Commission, the scientists employed diamond anvil cells to encapsulate microscopic samples of water, which were then subjected to both exceedingly high temperatures and pressures. They utilised bright X-ray beams at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility to examine these samples.
Results from their experiments demonstrated that when pressure and temperature were increased to approximately 2250 Kelvin (around 1970 degrees Celsius), the ice transformed into a new structure known as “hexagonal close-packed ice.” In this configuration, the oxygen atoms remain fixed within a crystalline lattice, while hydrogen atoms are free to move, carrying electrical charges.
Researchers believe this groundbreaking discovery may resolve long-standing mysteries in outer space, as this hot, electrically conductive ice is likely found in the depths of gas giant planets like Uranus and Neptune. It could explain the oddities in the magnetic fields of these planets, which do not exhibit the same symmetrical properties as Earth’s magnetic field. This revelation has prompted scientists to advocate for further studies to thoroughly understand the mechanical and electrical characteristics of this mysterious ice.