Fig. 1: Schematic phase diagram of crystalline ice phases inspired by Bartels-Rausch et al. Salzmann et al. and Huang et al.
In primary school we all learn about the three phases of water – Ice, water, vapor. Of course we were not told the whole story. Scientists have been on The everlasting hunt for new ice Phases. Apparently we have been very fortunate. Ice-IX was developed about the time that Kurt Vonnegut published Cat’s Cradle.