Breaking News: Scientists Capture Elusive Liquid Carbon - A Diamond in Disguise
September 12, 2025 - In a groundbreaking experiment at the European XFEL, researchers have successfully captured fleeting snapshots of liquid carbon, revealing surprising diamond-like structures and narrowing down its true melting point.
Key Facts:
For the first time, scientists have measured liquid carbon experimentally.
The research team used a high-power laser combined with the ultrashort X-ray laser flash of the European XFEL.
The experiment was led by an international collaboration headed by the University of Rostock and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR).
Experiment Details:
The researchers used the DIPOLE 100-X high-performance laser at the European XFEL in 2023 to compress and melt carbon. The experiment captured nanosecond snapshots of liquid carbon, providing unprecedented insights into its behavior under extreme pressure.
Immediate Impact:
This breakthrough has significant implications for our understanding of materials science and the properties of carbon. The discovery could lead to new applications in fields such as energy storage, catalysis, and advanced materials.
Background Context:
Carbon is a fundamental element with diverse forms and structures. Liquid carbon has long been an enigma, with its elusive nature making it difficult to study experimentally. This achievement marks a major milestone in the field of materials science, enabling researchers to better understand the behavior of liquid carbon under extreme conditions.
What Happens Next:
The research team will continue to analyze the data and refine their understanding of liquid carbon's properties. Future experiments may focus on exploring the potential applications of this discovery and further investigating the diamond-like structures observed in the experiment.
*This story is developing. Information compiled from Sciencedaily reporting.*
