Scientists have discovered 4th form of water: What we know
What's the story
Scientists have found a new form of water, called "plastic ice VII," that could possibly exist on other planets. This unusual phase of water was formed by applying extreme pressure and temperature—conditions that may exist in the depths of some planets. The finding provides the first solid evidence for its existence, confirming theoretical models predicting such a phase.
Unique phase
A rare form of water
Plastic ice VII is a rare and unusual form of water that only occurs under extreme conditions. Unlike regular ice, it requires high pressure and temperature to form. The discovery opens up new possibilities for understanding how water behaves under extraterrestrial conditions on other planets or moons, particularly those predicted to have similar conditions as those required for the formation of plastic ice VII.
Experimental process
Creation of plastic ice VII
To create plastic ice VII, researchers at France's Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) conducted an experiment. They applied pressures of six gigapascals (60,000 times atmospheric pressure on Earth) and heated water to temperatures as high as 327°C, successfully creating this long-hypothesized substance. Using quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS), a technique that tracks the motion of particles at the atomic scale, the team was able to observe both translational and rotational motion of particles under extreme conditions.
Molecular rotation
Discovery challenges previous assumptions
The discovery of plastic ice VII also contradicts earlier assumptions about its behavior. Instead of the conventional "free rotor" type of motion, hydrogen atoms in Ice VII don't move the way we thought they would. They display a different mechanism of molecular rotation. This, in turn, suggests that plastic ice VII behaves differently than other types of water, giving us new insights into the unique characteristics of water under extreme conditions.
Impact
Plastic ice VII's implications for extraterrestrial life
The discovery of plastic ice VII has major implications for understanding water beyond Earth. This strange phase of water could exist in the innermost parts of planets and moons in our solar system and beyond. It could affect conditions for life/habitability on these alien worlds.