Scientists discover a strange new form of ice that could help explain the interiors of Neptune and Uranus

Scientists have discovered a new form of ice, called superionic ice, that could help explain the interiors of Neptune and Uranus. The ice forms under extreme pressure and temperature conditions, unlike the regular ice found on Earth. The research was conducted in a lab using a diamond anvil cell to recreate the conditions found in these distant planets. The study revealed that the ice adopts a hexagonal pattern known as hexagonal close-packed (hcp) under specific conditions. This discovery could improve understanding of the magnetic fields and deep interior layers of these planets. The findings are published in Physical Review Letters and are based on X-ray diffraction data. The research could help model the behavior of superionic ice in planetary interiors, potentially changing how scientists understand the structure and dynamics of Uranus and Neptune.

AI-generated summary of the original article — see the source for the full story.