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Science In Action: Science on ice

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Science on ice

02/02/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Science In Action, Science on ice

The different forms of frozen water from ice made in labs to Jupiter’s icy moons

Roland Pease explores different forms of frozen water, from new material produced in the University College London labs to the coldest ice observed in the universe.

Pull on an extra layer and stay toasty whilst Science in Action braces for a deep freeze. Whilst we know plenty about the ice on the Earth’s poles, Roland is on a chilling journey to see what can be found in deep space. 
 
Professor Christoph Salzmann and Professor Andrea Sella at University College London have produced a new phase of ice. Roland heads to the laboratory to see how the usual crystalline ice, found in ice cubes and icebergs, can be broken down and arranged into a new structure. 
 
The James Webb Space Telescope has detected the coldest ices to date, deep within a molecular cloud in outer space. Professor Melissa McClure describes how these clouds harbour a variety of different molecules potentially capable of forming the basic building blocks for life.  
 
From the edges of the universe to something a little closer to home, Professor Geoff Collins and colleagues have discovered odd tectonic plate activity on icy Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons.  
 
And a theory for the origin of life that may surprise you. Professor Philipp Holliger is trying to uncover whether ice played a role in our creation, acting as a medium capable of concentrating molecules and promoting the chemical reactions required for the generation of RNA, essential for cell protein production.  
 
Presenter: Roland Pease 
Producer: Harrison Lewis 
Assistant Producer: Sophie Ormiston

(Photo: Chunk of ice. Credit: Getty Images)

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