Quantum Times

Artificially controlling water condensation leads to 'room-temperature ice'

In a breakthrough so hot it's cool, Spanish researchers have figured out how to make water freeze at room temperature. By artificially manipulating the mechanisms by which water condenses in the atmosphere, the researchers found a means to trigger ice formation at far higher temperatures than water's usual freezing point, a development that could lead to better artificial snowmaking, more efficient ice skating rinks, and better freezer technology. The prevalent school of thought regarding ice formation used to dictate that hexagonal structures similar to that of natural snow and ice were the best candidates to induce freezing or to trigger rain. The research team at Spain's Centre d'Investigaci? Nanoci?ia i Nanotecnologia decided to test this theory on a mineral named "Frankdicksonite," or barium fluoride (BaF2). Related ArticlesLasers Could Create Clouds, and Perhaps Rain, on Demand Falling Ice Strikes TwiceAs China and US Plan to Exploit "Burning Ice" for Fuel, the Ice Race Is

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