In a revolutionary act of modern-day alchemy, scientists at Harvard University have managed to successfully turn hydrogen into metal in a breakthrough that could potentially revolutionise technology.
The study, published in the research journal Science, revealed that the experiment was carried in collaboration between lead researcher Professor Isaac Silvera and Dr Ranga Dias at Harvard.
Hydrogen has never been converted into metal, and scientists have managed to carry out this breakthrough act after 80 years of research. The newly-made metallic hydrogen can be observed via two diamonds, which were used to compress liquid hydrogen at sub-zero temperature. The magnitude of the pressure required to do so was more than that present at the Earth’s centre. The new form of hydrogen, has currently been created in a tiny amount, but is the rarest, most valuable material on the planet.
In an interview with media, Professor Silvera commented, “It’s the first-ever sample of metallic hydrogen on Earth, so when you’re looking at it, you’re looking at something that’s never existed before.”
Theoretically, metallic hydrogen could revolutionise technology, enabling us to produce super-fast computers, high-speed levitating trains and ultra-efficient vehicles while dramatically improving almost anything involving electricity.
However, before metallic hydrogen is used, researchers would first have to gauge whether the metallic hydrogen particle can survive at normal temperature. It is possible that the metallic hydrogen could rot away once pressure and temperature is regularised. Researchers however hope to retain it in its metallic state once it is brought back to standard conditions.
Elaborating on this problem, Professor Silvera said, “It needs to be gauged whether it will be similar to the way diamonds form from graphite under intense heat and pressure, but remains a diamond when that pressure and heat is removed.”
The new technology can change the way energy is transmitted. Professor Silvera said, “15 percent of the total energy dissipates in transmission, so if you could make wires from this material and use them in the electrical grid, it could change that story.”
Moreover, space exploration could get a boost from this technology. Metallic hydrogen can be used to create rocket fuel four times more powerful than what is currently available.
Furthermore, computers could potentially be transformed into ultra-fast machines, while high-speed levitating trains and ultra-efficient vehicles could be manufactured.
The paper’s abstract mentions, “Producing metallic hydrogen has been a great challenge to condensed matter physics.” Regardless, it is key leap into the future despite uncertainty pertaining to the metallic hydrogen’s next study phase, since it has allowed scientists to confirm that alchemy is possible.”