Something weird happens when you keep squeezing

Vox9 minutes read

Water in a syringe cannot be compressed even under extreme pressure, and different substances react differently as pressure increases. The Omega EP laser can simulate Earth's deep conditions, producing unique materials like conductive ice and transparent sodium under extreme pressure.

Insights

  • Water cannot be compressed in a syringe even under extreme pressure, showcasing the unique behavior of substances under varying levels of pressure.
  • The Omega EP laser at the University of Rochester can replicate extreme pressures found deep within the Earth, leading to the creation of denser ice forms and transparent sodium, shedding light on the transformative effects of pressure on materials.

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Recent questions

  • Can water be compressed in a syringe?

    No

  • What happens to water at 100 atmospheres?

    Becomes solid

  • What is the pressure on Earth's surface compared to a phone with Dwayne Johnson?

    500 times stronger

  • What happens to sodium under extreme pressure?

    Turns transparent

  • How does the Omega EP laser simulate extreme pressures?

    Creates extreme pressures

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Summary

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Extreme pressure effects on substances and water

  • Water in a syringe cannot be compressed, even under extreme pressure from an industrial hydraulic press.
  • The pressure on Earth's surface is 500 times stronger than the pressure exerted by a phone with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on top.
  • Squeezing substances like hydrogen, sodium, and water at increasing depths results in different reactions due to varying levels of pressure.
  • At 100 atmospheres, water becomes solid, forming a cubic lattice instead of hexagonal crystals.
  • The Omega EP laser at the University of Rochester can create extreme pressures, simulating conditions deep within the Earth.
  • The laser experiment with Ice-VII between diamonds produced Ice-XVIII, denser than normal ice and conductive like a metal.
  • Under extreme pressure, sodium turns transparent as electrons are squeezed away from their atoms.
  • In the sun, pressures over 100 billion atmospheres enable nuclear fusion, the source of energy in stars and a potential clean power source on Earth.
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