Water is the basis of life on Earth …
A sensational discovery was made by American physicists: using computer modeling and neutron scattering, they discovered an absolutely new state of water molecules - atypical for any of the three known aggregate states.
As you know, water has three basic states of aggregation - liquid, solid and gaseous. However, under high pressure and in a cramped space, water molecules demonstrate another state and at the same time live not according to classical, but according to quantum laws of physics.
Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in conjunction with the Rutherford-Appleton laboratory, conducted an experiment to find out what state a liquid takes in microcracks in rocks, soil, and also during its passage through cell membranes. However, the discovery turned out to be even more ambitious and unexpected.
During the experiment, water was placed in hexagonal ultrasmall channels in the beryl mineral (chemical formula Be3Al2Si6O18). This mineral is the base of emeralds. The channels studied are only 0.5 nanometers in diameter.
As it turned out, water molecules exhibit a quantum tunneling effect, overcoming the potential barrier. This state of water has never been observed by scientists before and did not correspond to any typical states of this substance.
By itself, this phenomenon (quantum tunneling) has long been known, but previously it was always believed that it exists only in quantum mechanics. At low temperatures (5-50 K), this "tunnel" water demonstrates quantum properties, which is impossible in the classical world.
The study of these samples using neutron scattering, as well as the subsequent computer simulation showed that the atoms of a given water molecule are located simultaneously in all six possible positions.
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As shown by computer calculations, the "catalyst" for the transition of water molecules to the tunneling state are vibrations of the structure of the beryl crystal.
Researchers have no doubt that their discovery will entail a lot of discussions in biological, geological and physical and mathematical circles: now it will be important to explain the mechanism of the new phenomenon and understand how it will affect modern scientific ideas.
You can also watch a video about this sensational discovery: