Featured Image Credit: SWNS
Topics: Science
Callum Jones
In a big development, scientists have created an entirely new type of ice that does not float or sink.
Instead, the new discovery more closely resembles a liquid rather than frozen water.
It might also be key in finding alien life by offering an insight into the processes that shape the oceans of Saturn and Jupiter's moons, where other life may exist.
Different to familiar crystalline ice, this new substance contains 'amorphous' molecules - a disorganised form that resembles a liquid.
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However, researchers believe that ordinary ice could develop into something similar because of tidal forces exerted from planets such as Jupiter.
The theory is that if ice does still exist there, it could have implications for potential alien life.
Senior author Professor Christoph Salzmann, from University College London, said: "Water is the foundation of all life.
"Our existence depends on it, we launch space missions searching for it, yet from a scientific point of view it is poorly understood.
"We know of 20 crystalline forms of ice, but only two main types of amorphous ice have previously been discovered, known as high-density and low-density amorphous ices.
"There is a huge density gap between them and the accepted wisdom has been that no ice exists within that density gap."
In the experiments carried out at the University College London, scientists and researchers used a process known as ball milling.
This involves vigorously shaking ordinary ice together with steel balls in a jar cooled to -200 degrees Centigrade.
From that, you'd expect just small mushed up pieces of ice, but the amorphous form of ice was created instead.
Co-author Professor Andrea Sella said: “We have shown it is possible to create what looks like a stop-motion kind of water. This is an unexpected and quite amazing finding.”
Those working on the project ended up naming the ice MDA (medium-density amorphous) ice.
Professor Salzmann said: "Our study shows the density of MDA is precisely within this density gap.
"This finding may have far-reaching consequences for our understanding of liquid water and its many anomalies."
When MDA was warmed up and recrystallised, it released an extraordinary amount of heat.
The density gap has led to some scientists believing that water becomes two liquids when it is extremely cold.
Theoretically, it is believed that both could exist at the same temperature, with one floating about the other.
Lead author Dr Alexander Rosu-Finsen said: "We shook the ice like crazy for a long time and destroyed the crystal structure.
"Rather than ending up with smaller pieces of ice, we realised we had come up with an entirely new kind of thing, with some remarkable properties."
The full research has been published in the journal Science.