Weird Water in Space is Electrically Charged

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This galactic bubble is known as RCW 120. It lies about 4300 light-years away and has been formed by a star at its center. The star is not visible at these infrared wavelengths but pushes on the surrounding dust and gas with nothing more than the power of its starlight. (Image credit: ESA/PACS/SPIRE/HOBYS Consortia)

A new 'phase' of water that is electrically charged has beendiscovered in space for the first time.

The weird spacewater vapor was discovered in an interstellar dust cloud by the EuropeanSpace Agency's Herschel space observatory.

Unlike the three more familiar phases of water ? namelysolid ice, liquid water and gaseous steam ? this newfound 'phase' doesn't occurnaturally on Earth.

"This detection of ionized water vapor came as asurprise," said Arnold Benz of ETH Zurich in Switzerland. "It tellsus that there are violent processes taking place during the early birth stageswhich lead to widespread energetic radiation throughout the cloud."

Herschel launched in May 2009 alongside Europe's Planckobservatory, which will detect the cosmic microwave background radiation ofthe universe.

Space.com Staff
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