Posted on 03/19/2007 8:21:00 AM PDT by nypokerface
ALBUQUERQUE, March 19 (UPI) -- U.S. government scientists have developed technology that can turn water into ice in nanoseconds.
Researchers at the Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, however, caution the ice is hotter than the boiling point of water.
"The three phases of water as we know them --cold ice, room temperature liquid and hot vapor -- are actually only a small part of water's repertory of states," said Sandia researcher Daniel Dolan. "Compressing water customarily heats it. But under extreme compression, it is easier for dense water to enter its solid phase (ice) than maintain the more energetic liquid phase (water)."
In the experiment, the volume of water shrank abruptly and discontinuously, consistent with the formation of nearly every known form of ice except the ordinary kind, which expands. The researchers note only "ordinary" ice expands when water freezes. There are at least 11 other known forms of ice occurring at a variety of temperatures and pressures.
"This work," said Dolan, "is a basic science study that helps us understand materials at extreme conditions."
The research at Sandia -- a National Nuclear Security Administration laboratory -- appeared online March 11 in the journal Nature Physics.
Wow, cool!
Er, dense, I mean.
I guess now they can beat Starbucks to the punch on the whole new 'hot ice-coffee'.
I thought this was going to be about Hillary's "look".
Don't tell Al Gore.
Id doesn't say what volume of water was used.
OK....now I'm really confused. When you compress the components of water....hydrogen and oxygen.....they become extremely cold and liquid. I'll admit it. This stuff is way over my head. I'm a chemistry dope.
How many nonoseconds? If it`s one nanosecond, it`s still slower than Hellary ducking a direct question.
Holy Cow! A nanosecond is a real measurement of time, I thought it was a made up word. *mind is blown*
I saw that in the movie "The Day After Tomorrow".
Water has a shape somewhat like a boomerang. When it is cooled, it forms a crystal that has more "holes" than liquid water. Ice, therefore, expands when it freezes normally and floats in liquid water. However, you can also get a liquid to freeze by subjecting it to higher and higher pressure. Higher pressure causes gases to revert to liquids and can make liquids solidify. By doing this, you are actually adding energy to water, and the ice that forms is of a different crystal than the ice that comes out of your freezer. This ice is actually hot, because we never removed any energy from it. Hot ice, dontcha know. Ain't science cool?
Still waiting for cryogenic freezing.
I just saw a kid freeze a corona beer in less then 30 seconds just by tapping it.
Just what we need - another Al Gore movie on hot ice and global warming? Please make the ice cold, and make the bad man go away.
"Hot Ice". Sounds like a new band.
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