All articles tagged with #superionic ice
Researchers used diamond anvil cells and synchrotron X-rays to heat water to roughly 2,357 C and pressures up to 200 GPa, observing the predicted superionic ice (ice X) where oxygen forms a lattice and hydrogen ions move freely, matching theoretical models of ice giants’ interiors—though decades of work remain to confirm Neptune/Uranus mappings.
Scientists have discovered a new phase of superionic ice, called Ice XIX, which has a body-centered cubic structure and increased conductivity compared to its predecessor, Ice XVIII. Superionic ice is a strange form of ice that exists at extreme pressures and temperatures, such as those found in the interiors of Uranus, Neptune, and similar exoplanets. The enhanced conductivity of Ice XIX could explain the off-kilter magnetic fields observed in Uranus and Neptune, suggesting that these ice giants may have layers of superionic ice with differing conductivity, leading to the generation of multipolar magnetic fields. This discovery deepens our understanding of the unique properties of water in extreme environments and its role in shaping planetary interiors.