The Structure of Ice in Space Is Neither Order nor Chaos—It’s Both

The article discusses the unique structure of ice found in space, contrasting it with the well-ordered crystalline ice typical on Earth. Terrestrial ice forms hexagonal crystals due to slow freezing under Earth’s temperature and pressure conditions. In contrast, space ice forms under extreme cold and vacuum conditions, leading scientists to believe it is amorphous—lacking a clear molecular order. This distinction complicates understanding of planetary formation and the distribution of water in the universe. Recent research published in Physical Review B challenges the notion that space ice is purely amorphous. Using computer simulations alongside laboratory experiments that mimic space conditions, researchers found that space ice likely consists of small crystalline fragments about 3 nanometers wide embedded within an amorphous matrix. Their model suggests space ice is roughly 20% crystalline and 80% amorphous. This hybrid structure has implications for theories like panspermia, which propose that life’s building blocks could have been transported to Earth via space ice. The presence of crystalline regions affects