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A twist in the tale of the structure of ice

A classic study found that crystalline ice adopts an amorphous form when compressed. Experiments now find that alternative phase transitions can occur — with implications for theories about water’s structure.
  1. John S. Tse

    1. John S. Tse is in the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada.

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Water is not a simple compound — it exhibits many anomalous physical behaviours that defy adequate explanation. Any fresh information on the structure of water in its various condensed forms is therefore welcome. Writing in Nature, Tulk et al.1 report a study of water under high pressure. They find that it passes through a sequence of crystalline phases rather than forming an amorphous solid, as had been reported by previous studies.

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Nature 569, 495-496 (2019)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-01586-9

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