A weird ice that may form on alien planets has finally been observed

A New Insight on the Products of Ice on Other Planets

1. The Discovery of Plastic Ice
   The report on plastic ice, a peculiar form of water discovered on other planets, offers new insights into the internal architecture and processes of other worlds in our solar system and beyond. Plastic ice, classified as intermediate between solid ice and liquid water, exhibits properties that could offer clues about the origins of life and fluid systems in interstellar environments.

2. The Structure of Plastic Ice
   Plastic ice, identified as "something intermediate," is described as "softer" than typical crystalline ice and "plastic" due to its ability to deform under pressure and temperature changes, similar to certain crystalline forms. However, unlike typical ice, plastic ice is arranged in a hexagonal lattice of water molecules, resembling a hexagon-of-fill honeycomb.

3. Examples of Ice Phases
   In addition to conventional ice, represented as ice leaf, there are at least 20 other ice phases. Ice VII and VIIA are known for compressing water into a dense, cubic structure when subjected to high pressures, such as those found in the Earth’s mantle. These phases contain millions of water molecules arranged in a cubicle-like structure, leading to unique physical and chemical properties, including the formation of substances like cubanes and cubicles.

4. The Initial Discovery and Its Significance
   Plastic ice VII, a hypothetical phase discovered in 1996, has been identified in ancient water samples. Its discovery refutes perceptions that frozen water is infinitely rigid, challenging previous Understandings about the behavior of ice under extreme conditions. The phase’s properties are intermediate between liquid and glass, behaving as both, making it a fascinating anomaly.

5. Plastic Ice in Planetary Environments
   The experiments were conducted in the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, France, using neutron beams to probe the motions of molecular scales under high temperatures (up to 326°C) and pressures (up to 60,000 bars). Results confirmed plastic ice VII’s existence, resolving a long-dated discrepancy in its behavior compared to conventional ice.

6. Implications for Other Planets
   Plastic ice VII’s discovery has significant implications for understanding the evolutionary history of icy bodies in our solar system and beyond. The findings may suggest that these icy planets formed early and lose their outer shells to retain their internalalescements. However, the surprising behavior of plastic ice VII may provide clues about how these phases integrate into the oceanic systems of exoplanets, offering a deeper understanding of salt exchange between planetary seafloors and their associated oceans.

This summary captures the essence of the research, highlighting the discovery of a new type of water, its unique properties, and its potential implications for planetary science.