Imagine a form of ice that is simultaneously solid and liquid, a state that defies our conventional understanding of physics. This is superionic ice, a substance believed to exist in the frigid interiors of Uranus and Neptune, the ice giant planets in our solar system. But how can we understand something so far away and so different from anything we know? Enter Dr. Naledi Mokoena, a South African physicist contributing to the groundbreaking research in this field.
Unveiling the Mysteries of Superionic Ice
Superionic ice is an enigmatic phase of water that is part solid and part liquid. It’s trapped in a cubic lattice structure with free-flying hydrogen atoms, a state of matter confirmed by scientists in 2018. This strange substance isn’t something you’d find in your freezer or even on the coldest day in Jo’burg. Instead, its existence is theorised in the extreme pressure and temperature conditions within Uranus and Neptune.
South African Involvement in the Research
Dr. Naledi Mokoena, a physicist at the University of Pretoria, is part of the international team working on understanding this otherworldly phase of water. Using advanced computational simulations at the National Institute for Theoretical Physics, Mokoena is able to model the conditions inside these distant planets.
“The beauty of theoretical physics is that we can test the untestable and explore the unexplorable,” said Dr. Mokoena. In her research, she’s not only contributing to our understanding of our solar system but also pushing the boundaries of South African science.
The Significance of the Research
The study of superionic ice doesn’t just advance our understanding of the universe. It also has potential implications here on Earth. Understanding the properties of water under extreme conditions could lead to advances in material science and technology.
South Africa is no stranger to significant scientific contributions, from the discovery of the coelacanth to the world’s first heart transplant. Now, with Dr. Mokoena and her team’s research, we’re proving once more that South African scientists are at the forefront of pushing scientific boundaries.
This article is based on the original research published by Gizmodo, available here.
Source: Original Article
