"Miracle metal": scientists say they have created the coveted metallic hydrogen, which will make a revolutionary breakthrough in science

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A challenge that has been worked on for over 8 decades

American scientists claim that they have finally succeeded in bringing hydrogen to a state where it behaves like a metal.

If this is true, then more than 80 years of searching for a solution to the problem of producing the so-called “miracle metal” has been completed.

The theory suggests that metallic hydrogen can be used, among other things, for zero resistance electrical wiring and very powerful rocket fuel.

This discovery was made by scientists from Harvard University (USA) Ranga Diaz and Isaac Silver. “This is the first time metallic hydrogen has appeared on planet Earth,” he told Silver’s Air Force. Both noted that the amount of metallic hydrogen created is still small, less than the cross section of a human hair. But scientists believe they might find other ways to increase production over time.

How did they get it?

According to a laboratory study conducted, a cell containing a small sample of molecular hydrogen had to be squeezed between two synthetic diamonds. Diaz and Silvera mentioned that they used a device that allowed them to bring the pressure to 495 GPa.

This corresponds to a pressure of nearly 5 million Earth atmospheres.

The device they used, called the DAC, also allows the temperature to drop to about 270 degrees Celsius below zero.

The intention was to gather hydrogen atoms close enough to form a crystal lattice and start sharing their electrons. This is the behavior of the metal.

“When we increased the pressure, there was a glow. It was mesmerizing. We got 90% reflection, about the same as that of an aluminum mirror, “the scientists told the BBC. Science in Action ”.

Skeptics

The experiment by academics at Harvard has generated some degree of skepticism. Other scientists working in related fields told the BBC that the study was short, which made it impossible to collect the necessary data to properly assess the progress achieved.

“This is complete rubbish” – this is how Evgeny Gregoriants, a scientist from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland), described the study.

Such resistance is quite natural. If what scientists say is confirmed, it will become one of the biggest discoveries in physics in recent decades.

“Being skeptical about this is probably a good thing as it will stimulate many other scientists to replicate this experiment,” Mark Nudson of Sandia National Labs in the US told the BBC.

“Impressive” properties

More than 80 years ago, there was speculation that metallic hydrogen existed. Since then, there have been many scientific studies aimed at obtaining it.

According to the statement made, the properties of the resulting material are “impressive”. One of them, for example, is the ability to go through extreme conditions, while maintaining its condition and even returning it to normal temperature and pressure.

And if, as some think, the material is also a zero resistance superconductor, then this could lead to a breakthrough in the field of transmission and storage of electricity.

The US space agency is also impressed by the scientists’ discovery.

Super-cold liquid hydrogen, which could already be used to increase the power of rocket engines, but if the hydrogen takes a metallic form, it will help provide a truly colossal level of thrust, which will allow the lifting of much larger loads from Earth.

But so far all these are only assumptions.

First of all, it is necessary to demonstrate that the experience of Harvard University can be replicated. If this succeeds, then it is necessary to obtain a larger amount of metallic hydrogen.

Source: http://www.bbc.com