Uranus and Neptune are also referred to as ice giants, and the idea that water exists there in some form is not new.
American planetary scientist Burkhard Militzer now in the magazine Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences proposed the theory that beneath the hydrogen and helium-rich atmospheres of the planets is a liquid layer of water and hydrogen, which in the case of Uranus is over 8,000 kilometers deep.
At the same time, the atmosphere of Uranus is supposed to be roughly 4800 km thick. Although Neptune is more massive than Uranus, it has a smaller overall diameter and a thinner atmosphere compared to it. However, according to Militzer’s paper published on Monday, it is likely that they share similarly extensive water-rich layers.
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“We think it’s the ocean,” Militzer said. Blade NOW notes that this ocean would be under a pressure 60,000 times that of the surface of the Earth, so it would behave more like a combination of gas and liquid than liquid water on Earth.
What lies beneath the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune? Diamond rain? Super-ionic water? A planetary scientist at UC Berkeley proposes an alternative theory. 🌌 https://t.co/r6wzKFmvvJ
— UC Berkeley (@UCBerkeley) November 25, 2024
At the same time, Militzer believes that under the water on Uranus and Neptune there is a similarly thick layer of highly compressed liquid composed of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen.
He reached his conclusion based on a computer model that simulated the conditions on the planets in question. The result of the simulation of the respective pressure and temperature was the natural formation of separate layers.
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“One day I looked at the model and the water was separated from the carbon and nitrogen,” Militzer mentioned on the university’s website Berkeley News. “I would say we now have a good theory as to why Uranus and Neptune have very different fields from the other planets,” he said.
He was referring to the magnetic fields of the planets, which differ from other planets in the Solar System. The difference was already revealed by the Voyager 2 probe, which observed Uranus and Neptune more than 30 years ago. It turned out that the ice giants do not have a dipole magnetic field emanating from the center of the planet like e.g. Earth, Jupiter or Saturn, however, have a magnetic field significantly shifted away from the center of the planet and significantly deviated from the axis of rotation.
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The finding indicated that deep inside both planets there is no so-called convective flow of a conductive liquid that creates a dipole magnetic field.
- Convection is needed to set sufficiently conductive masses (liquids) in motion and create a stable and strong planetary magnetic field through magnetic induction. This usually happens inside the centers of planets, but in the case of ice planets it seems to be different.
More than 20 years ago, two scientific teams offered the answer that Uranus and Neptune form layers that do not mix, preventing convection in their interior. Other experts believed that the inner layers of the planet were more mixed.
Militzer’s explanation now suggests that the disordered appearance of the magnetic fields is caused by the water-rich upper layer, which generates the magnetic field with its flow.
“Until now, we basically knew nothing about the interior of the two planets,” commented planetary scientist Adam Masters, working at Imperial College London, on the new theory.
“So this new hypothesis is very impressive,” he added.
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Ah, welcome, stargazers and cosmic comedians alike! Today, we’re diving into the frosty depths of Uranus and Neptune, those ice giants that bring a whole new meaning to “chilling out.” In fact, they’re so cold they could freeze the very laughter out of a stand-up gig – just like a bad punchline!
So, picture this: American planetary scientist Burkhard Militzer has thrown his scientific shovel into the snowy ground of celestial mapping. He boldly suggests that beneath those gaseous exteriors of Hydrogen and Helium, Uranus and Neptune are hiding something. No, it’s not diamonds or a lost collection of 1980s sitcom DVDs – it’s a massive liquid layer of water mingled with some hydrogen that goes deeper than your average “dad joke” can dig!
Now, if you think your last argument over a dinner table was heated, try imagining the pressure down there: up to 60,000 times that of Earth’s surface! With conditions that intense, the water behaves more like a confused mixture of gas and liquid. It’s less “Splish Splash, I Was Taking a Bath” and more “Slosh, Slosh, I’m a Cosmic Inquisition of Pressure” – full of drama and existential crisis, just like my last relationship!
Adding to the intrigue, Militzer claims that beneath this water lies a thick crust of highly compressed liquids. Picture it like the layered approach to desserts – if Earth has cake, Uranus has a rich trifle of carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen, just waiting to make a splash.
But wait, there’s more! Militzer’s computer model, which sounds a bit like the nerdy cousin of “The Matrix,” indicates that these layers are what keep Uranus and Neptune from joining the ranks of the other planets with nice, stable magnetic fields. Instead, these planets have magnetic fields that are as centered as a toddler on a sugar rush – wildly skewed and completely off-balance. Thank you, Voyager 2 for confirming that these ice giants are as disorganized as my attempts at adulting!
This brings us to an important point. The difficulty in establishing convection within these planets means they’ve got an unusual magnetic setup. Instead of the nice, symmetrical dipole we see in Earth or Saturn, the magnetic fields here are scattering off at odd angles like a bad game of dodgeball. You know, where everyone is trying to avoid being hit, but instead, it just leads to chaos – exactly how I felt during my school gym classes!
Renowned planetary scientist Adam Masters from Imperial College London has thrown in his two cents, saying he’s very impressed with Militzer’s new theory. And why wouldn’t he be? In the grand show of cosmic mysteries, we’re cracking the code of Uranus and Neptune’s secrets like a particularly tricky crossword puzzle!
So, let’s raise our glasses (filled with a very Earth-like cocktail and not the liquid hydrogen variety) to Burkhard Militzer and the team of planetary detectives solving the riddle of the icy giants. They’ve not only revealed the layered complexity of these planets but given us all a reason to remember that the cosmos is more entertaining than a night out at the comedy club!
In closing, Uranus and Neptune may be far away, but they’ve just pulled up a chair to the science table for a raucous discussion. Hopefully, next time we peer through our telescopes, we’ll understand just a little bit more – and perhaps even pick up a giggle or two from the universe’s quirkiest jokes. Cheers to that!
Uranus and Neptune, often dubbed ice giants, have long sparked scientific curiosity regarding the presence of water in some form within their depths.
Burkhard Militzer, an esteemed American planetary scientist, has put forth a groundbreaking theory in the esteemed publication Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggesting that these distant planets conceal a vast liquid layer composed of water and hydrogen beneath their thick atmospheres, with Uranus boasting a liquid layer exceeding an astonishing 8,000 kilometers in depth.
While the atmosphere of Uranus is estimated to extend approximately 4,800 kilometers into space, Neptune—despite its greater mass—has a smaller overall diameter and a thinner atmospheric layer. Nevertheless, Militzer’s recent research posits that both planets potentially harbor extensive water-rich regions deep within.
Militzer asserts, “We think it’s the ocean,” referring to these hidden reservoirs. According to Blade NOW, this ocean is situated under pressures a staggering 60,000 times greater than those experienced on Earth’s surface, resulting in a state that behaves more like a gaseous-liquid hybrid than that of conventional liquid water.
Militzer further hypothesizes that beneath the oceanic expanse on Uranus and Neptune lies an equally profound layer of highly compressed liquid, rich in carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen. This theory stems from a sophisticated computer simulation that modeled the extreme conditions prevalent on these planets, leading to the formation of distinct atmospheric layers.
Militzer reflected, “One day I looked at the model and the water was separated from the carbon and nitrogen,” during an interview on Berkeley News. He emphasized the significance of this finding in unraveling the mystery surrounding the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune, which deviate from the patterns observed in other planets of our Solar System.
The differing magnetic fields, first noted by the Voyager 2 probe over 30 years ago, reveal that these ice giants lack a conventional dipole magnetic field that typically emanates from a planet’s core, as seen in Earth, Jupiter, or Saturn. Instead, their magnetic fields appear significantly misaligned with the planets’ rotational axes, prompting new hypotheses about their internal structures.
The absence of a convective flow of conductive liquids within these planets’ interiors was highlighted by these findings, leading to further intrigue regarding their distinctive magnetic characteristics.
Militzer’s current explanation indicates that the chaotic nature of these ice giants’ magnetic fields arises from the movements of the water-rich upper layer, which actively generates magnetic fields through its dynamic flow.
Top planetary scientist Adam Masters from Imperial College London remarked on this novel hypothesis, stating, “Until now, we basically knew nothing about the interior of the two planets.” He expressed admiration for the significance of Militzer’s findings, noting their potential to revolutionize our understanding of these enigmatic worlds.
