Scientists Create Plastic Ice VII, a Unique Hybrid Phase of Water

The newly observed form of ice, combining solid and liquid properties, may exist on icy planets and moons under extreme conditions.

Plastic Ice VII is a newly observed phase of water that combines a rigid cubic lattice with rotational motion of water molecules, blending solid and liquid characteristics.
The discovery was made using advanced neutron spectrometry and computer simulations at the Institut Laue-Langevin in France.
This phase forms under extreme conditions, with temperatures between 127°C and 327°C and pressures ranging from 0.1 to 6 gigapascals.
Scientists suggest Plastic Ice VII could exist within the interiors of icy celestial bodies like Uranus, Neptune, and moons such as Ganymede and Europa.
The findings may provide insights into planetary evolution and the potential transition to the elusive superionic phase of water under even higher pressures and temperatures.