Tag Archives: metallic hydrogen

Blog 5: WHAT MAKES A METAL?

Jupiter’s magnetosphere is generated thanks to a “metallic” layer of hydrogen around its core that is electrically conductive. Saturn also has “metallic,” electrically conductive hydrogen around its core, which enables it to have a magnetosphere as well. But the quotation marks? The answer is that metallic hydrogen isn’t a metal, in the traditional sense. First, […] Continue reading

Posted in Class, Physics, Universe | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Blog 5: WHAT MAKES A METAL?

Metallic Hydrogen: The Holy Grail of High Pressure Physics

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, but at most reasonable temperatures and pressures it presents itself as an (infamously) flammable, colorless gas. In the high-pressure environments of the interior of Jupiter and Saturn, however, hydrogen takes on a rare and mysterious form: metallic hydrogen. You’re probably familiar with the three traditional states … Continue reading Metallic Hydrogen: The Holy Grail of High Pressure Physics Continue reading

Posted in Class | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Metallic Hydrogen: The Holy Grail of High Pressure Physics

Metallic hydrogen

In learning about the interiors, we’ve heard a lot about metallic hydrogen. To me, it was a confusing idea, simply because I only really hear about hydrogen in the context of being a gas or being a compound such as water or methane. Furthermore, it was not clear what phase metallic hydrogen would be, since… Continue reading

Posted in Class, Physics, Science, Universe | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Metallic hydrogen