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'Space Ice' Is Less Like Water than Previously Thought
GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND, JUL 7 – New findings reveal space ice is about 20% crystalline, challenging the belief it is fully amorphous and impacting understanding of cosmological processes, researchers say.
- Researchers from institutions including UCL and Cambridge have found that space ice is composed of tiny crystals embedded within an amorphous matrix, challenging the previous belief that it was entirely disordered.
- This research challenges the long-held assumption that space ice is fully amorphous because space is too cold for crystals to form.
- The team used computer simulations and X-ray diffraction to show that about 20 percent of the ice is crystalline and 80 percent amorphous at the atomic level.
- Dr. Michael B. Davies explained that researchers have gained a clear understanding of the atomic structure of the most prevalent type of ice found throughout the Universe and highlighted its potential impact on the movement of molecules relevant to the origins of life.
- These findings suggest space ice may be less effective at transporting origin-of-life molecules and could influence understanding of cosmological processes such as planet formation.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Hidden DNA-sized crystals in cosmic ice could rewrite water—and life itself
Scientists from UCL and the University of Cambridge have revealed that "space ice"—long thought to be completely disordered—is actually sprinkled with tiny crystals, changing our fundamental understanding of ice in the cosmos. These micro-crystals, just nanometers wide, were identified through simulations and lab experiments, revealing that even the most common ice in space retains a surprising structure. This has major implications not just for…
'Space ice' is less like water than previously thought
"Space ice" contains tiny crystals and is not a completely disordered material like liquid water, as previously assumed, according to a new study by scientists at UCL (University College London) and the University of Cambridge.
Ice in Space Could Do Something We Thought Was Impossible
Water frozen in the darkness of space doesn't appear to behave the way we thought. A new research effort using computer simulations and experiments to explore the most common form water takes in the Universe has found that it is not as structureless as scientists had thought. Rather, repeating patterns – otherwise known as crystals – just a few nanometers across are likely embedded in an otherwise frozen jumble of molecules. Since scientists had…
When we think of snowflakes, we think of symmetry, order, and regularity. But ice in space? It was long considered the opposite: messy, amorphous, without a fixed structure. Yet, it's different. New British research shows that space ice is surprisingly organized and even contains tiny crystals. "So space ice isn't just a frozen puddle [...] Want to know more about science? Read the latest articles on Scientias.nl .
‘Space ice’ is less like water than we thought - Scientific Inquirer
“Space ice” contains tiny crystals and is not, as previously assumed, a completely disordered material like liquid water, according to a new study by scientists at UCL (University College London) and the University of Cambridge. Ice in space is different to the crystalline (highly ordered) form of ice on Earth. For decades, scientists have assumed it is amorphous (without a structure), with colder temperatures meaning it does not have enough ene…
Space ice isn’t just frozen water—it’s full of tiny crystals
Ice in space, long believed to be completely disordered like frozen water without structure, is turning out to be more complex. New research from University College London (UCL) and the University of Cambridge has shown that so-called “space ice” actually contains tiny crystals—even in its most common form. Scientists have known for decades that ice […] The post Space ice isn’t just frozen water—it’s full of tiny crystals appeared first on Knowr…
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