Life
Briefing: The depths of Neptune and Uranus may be 'superionic'
Strategic angle: New simulations suggest a previously unknown state of matter exists in the interiors of ice giant planets.
editorial-staff
1 min read
Updated 8 days ago
Research from Carnegie's Cong Liu and Ronald Cohen suggests that the interiors of ice giants Neptune and Uranus could host a superionic state of matter. This finding is based on advanced computational simulations.
The implications of this discovery are significant for our understanding of planetary interiors, particularly in how these states affect the thermal and structural properties of such planets.
The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications on April 3, 2026, marking a notable advancement in planetary science and the study of extreme conditions within giant planets.