Experiments Show High-Pressure Hydrogen Made 1,000 Times More Water, Bolstering Earth-Origin Ocean Theory
Updated
Updated · Quanta Magazine · Jun 12
Experiments Show High-Pressure Hydrogen Made 1,000 Times More Water, Bolstering Earth-Origin Ocean Theory
1 articles · Updated · Quanta Magazine · Jun 12
Summary
Laboratory tests by Harrison Horn, S.-H. Dan Shim and colleagues found that high-pressure hydrogen reacting with laser-melted rock produced up to 1,000 times more water than expected.
The result suggests a young rocky planet with a magma ocean and hydrogen-rich atmosphere could generate large amounts of water internally, rather than relying only on comet or asteroid impacts.
Earth remains an uncertain case because scientists do not know whether its early atmosphere held enough hydrogen pressure; some researchers say the process could have made some water, but perhaps not whole oceans.
The finding challenges the long-running comet-versus-asteroid debate, already complicated by mixed deuterium evidence from meteorites and newer comet studies, and raises the possibility that many planets are born water-rich.
Did Earth forge its oceans in a magma furnace, or were they a gift from asteroids and comets?
If our comets match Earth's water, why do interstellar comets show such extreme differences, challenging our cosmic models?
Earth's Deep Hydrogen Reservoir: Transforming Our Understanding of Water's Origin and Planetary Evolution
Overview
This report explores how the long-standing mystery of Earth's core composition, driven by its unexpectedly low density, has led scientists to investigate the presence of hydrogen deep within the planet. Early studies using X-ray diffraction showed that hydrogen could expand the lattice structure of iron crystals, but results varied widely, making it difficult to measure hydrogen compared to elements like silicon and oxygen. Recent experimental advances now provide more direct evidence, revealing that Earth's core holds a significant hydrogen reservoir. This discovery not only helps explain the core's low density but also reshapes our understanding of Earth's water origin and planetary evolution.