Scientists Uncover Hidden Ice Phase Under Extreme Pressure

Researchers at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) have successfully observed the rapid freezemelt cycles of water under ultrahigh pressure, leading to the discovery of a new ice phase, Ice XXI. This groundbreaking finding was made possible by the use of advanced high-pressure technology and microsecond XFEL imaging. The research team, led by President Lee Ho Seong, utilized a dynamic diamond anvil cell to generate the supercompressed state necessary for the observation. According to Dr. Kim, a researcher at KRISS, "The observation of Ice XXI was a surprise, as it showed a complex crystallization pathway that was never seen before. This new ice phase has a structure that resembles the high-pressure ice found inside Jupiter's and Saturn's moons, which has significant implications for planetary science." The discovery of Ice XXI is the first new ice phase found in decades and has sparked excitement among researchers in the field. The discovery of Ice XXI is a significant breakthrough in the field of high-pressure research. Water under high pressure is a complex system that has been studied extensively, but the rapid freezemelt cycles observed by the KRISS team have revealed new insights into the behavior of water at extreme conditions. The use of microsecond XFEL imaging allowed the researchers to capture the rapid changes in the water's structure, providing a unique understanding of the crystallization process. The discovery of Ice XXI has implications for our understanding of the composition and behavior of icy bodies in our solar system. Icy moons, such as those found in the Jupiter and Saturn systems, are thought to contain high-pressure ice phases that are similar to Ice XXI. The discovery of this new ice phase provides a new tool for understanding the composition and behavior of these icy bodies. The KRISS team's use of advanced high-pressure technology and microsecond XFEL imaging has opened up new possibilities for studying high-pressure systems. This technology has the potential to be used in a variety of fields, including materials science and planetary science. As Dr. Kim noted, "This discovery is just the beginning, and we are excited to see where this new technology will take us." The discovery of Ice XXI is a testament to the power of scientific collaboration and the importance of investing in basic research. The KRISS team's work has provided a significant contribution to our understanding of high-pressure systems and has opened up new avenues for research. As the scientific community continues to explore the properties of high-pressure ice phases, we can expect to see new and exciting discoveries that will shed light on the composition and behavior of icy bodies in our solar system. The KRISS team's research is ongoing, and they are currently exploring the properties of Ice XXI in more detail. The team is also working to develop new technologies that will allow them to study high-pressure systems in even greater detail. As the field of high-pressure research continues to evolve, we can expect to see new and exciting discoveries that will shed light on the composition and behavior of icy bodies in our solar system.