Discovery of New Form of Ice, Could Change Our Understanding, of Distant Water-Rich Planets.<br />Researchers at NLV have discovered a new <br />form of ice that redefines the properties <br />of water at extremely high pressure. .<br />SciTechDaily reports that there <br />are at least 20 different forms <br />of solid ice currently known. .<br />A team of scientists at UNLV's Nevada Extreme <br />Conditions Lab has developed a new method for measuring the properties of water under high pressure. .<br />The team discovered a new intermediate <br />phase of ice that comes between two <br />known phases, Ice-VII and Ice-X. .<br />The new transitional <br />tetragonal phase <br />has been named , Ice-VIIx. .<br />According to SciTechDaily, it is unlikely <br />that the new phase of ice exists <br />anywhere on the surface of Earth.<br />The transitional phase of ice is likely <br />a common ingredient in the mantle of Earth <br />as well as in large moons and water-rich planets. .<br />The transitional phase of ice is likely <br />a common ingredient in the mantle of Earth <br />as well as in large moons and water-rich planets. .<br />The new findings were published on March 17 <br />in the journal 'Physical Review B.'.<br />Zach Grande, a UNLV Ph.D. student, led the project <br />which also determined that the transition to Ice-X <br />occurs at much lower pressures than previously believed. .<br />Zach Grande, a UNLV Ph.D. student, led the project <br />which also determined that the transition to Ice-X <br />occurs at much lower pressures than previously believed. .<br />Zach’s work has demonstrated that this <br />transformation to an ionic state occurs <br />at much, much lower pressures than ever <br />thought before. It’s the missing piece, <br />and the most precise measurements <br />ever on water at these conditions, Ashkan Salamat, UNLV physicist, via SciTechDaily
