Interesting stuff there guys …
Along the same lines as Mark's post, there's also the 'Superionic State' of water. It was only theoretical in 2005(ish) but now, they've created it in the lab.
The interesting thing about this, is that it exists between solid and liquid states at extreme pressures & temperatures (eg: Neptune and Uranus). It also glows yellow.
A neat couple of
videos here (and an accompanying article).
Quote:
The observations and models have larger implications for the makeup of the universe. There could be more superionic water in the universe that just hasn't been observed than there is of the solid or liquid forms of water.
“I think we may have more superionic than ‘normal’ water in the icy large planets,” Goncharov said. “It is all determined by the pressure-temperature profile of the interior and the amount of material present.”
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One point to make about all this, is that the remote spectroscopic detection of water may, or may not have implications on habitability.
There's other things to take into consideration before assuming its in a state where life can make use of it. Let's face it, even if it is in a liquid state, there's probably other compounds dissolved in it, which could easily make it
not conducive to life.
Would such an environment be presently classified as 'habitable' ?
Cheers