Scientists reveal bizarre superionic water deep inside Uranus and Neptune

Scientists have uncovered a new form of superionic water, a bizarre state where hydrogen ions flow freely through a solid lattice of oxygen. This discovery sheds light on extreme conditions found deep inside planets like Uranus and Neptune. The findings could help explain the unusual magnetic fields of these ice giants.

An international research team produced superionic water using two of the world's most powerful X-ray lasers: the European XFEL and the LCLS. These facilities allowed them to recreate the extreme temperatures and pressures needed for the substance to form.

Under these conditions, oxygen atoms lock into a rigid structure—either a face-centred cubic pattern or a densely packed hexagonal arrangement. Meanwhile, hydrogen ions move freely through this lattice, giving the material unique properties.

The experiments revealed how superionic water behaves in environments similar to those inside ice giants. Its strange conductivity may play a key role in shaping the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune, where such water is thought to exist deep below the surface.

The study provides the first detailed look at superionic water's atomic structure. This knowledge refines scientific models of planetary interiors, particularly for Uranus and Neptune. The findings also offer new clues about how their magnetic fields form and behave.