New forms of ‘salty ice’ could explain mysterious signatures from Europa

In fact, according to the researchers, the kinds of cold, high-pressure conditions that they replicated in their diamond press would be common on the Jovian moons, where scientists think that three–six-mile-thick crusts of ice hide oceans up to several hundred miles deep.

It is even possible that, at the bottom of these seas, even denser forms of ice exist.

Prof. Journaux explained: “Pressure gets the molecules closer together, so their interaction changes — that is the main engine for diversity in the crystal structures we found.”

The team found that one of the two hydrates even remained stable after the pressure applied to the diamond press was released.

Prof. Journaux said: “We determined that it remains stable at standard pressure up to about -50C [-58F].

“So, if you have a very briny lake — for example in Antarctica — that could be exposed to these temperatures, this newly discovered hydrate could be present there.”

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Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1737189/salty-ice-new-forms-hydrates-may-explain-mysterious-signatures-europa