Scientists find molecular-level evidence for two structures in liquid water

I wonder if we are finding structure here because we are looking for structure.

Similar how you can find human faces in random pixels or rocks.

Somewhat related is the hydration shell around molecules especially proteins. It’s been shown that semi structured water around proteins help guide molecules to reaction sites. Water is an amazing thing!

Study published in Nature Physics: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-026-03301-8

a couple of breadcrumbs regarding the molecular organization of water.

Dissecting the hydrogen bond network of water: Charge transfer and nuclear quantum effects[2024]

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ads4369

Resonance Character of Hydrogen-bonding Interactions in Water and Other H-bonded Species[2005]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16581375/

>The boundary between them is thought to terminate at a "second critical point." This deeply supercooled region is so hard to study experimentally because water crystallizes rapidly

This sounds like the type of thing that could be used for some future technology that doesn’t exist yet and I can’t comprehend. Some sort of process that takes advantage of being in this second critical state.

This neural network stuff does give me real divination vibes, not gonna lie.

> Much of the evidence for the LLPT has therefore come from computational studies.

So it's just a numerical simulation with some ML techniques?

Sadly paper is behind paywall. But I question the choosing of the water model to be a 4-site, and why that specific 4-site one (TIP4P) instead of others that have shown to be more accurate such as OPC. Also, there seem to be previous experimental work (https://arxiv.org/abs/1304.2877) showing some evidence that apparently is not even referenced in this new paper. I wonder how does that compare, if at all.

It would be hilarious if homeopathy turned out to be right!

(To be clear, I don't think that will actually happen, but it would be hilarious if it did!)

So the OTA firmware updates on my dehumidifier for when they discover a new kind of water will come in handy after all!

"In a neural network." is the new "In mice."

Great to see progress on ice-9 /s

So if liquid water is really a mixture of water and water, is it safe to say that this paper establishes that water is wet?

"Density is greatest at 39F, not 32F"

But density at "greatest" would mean volume shrinking...right?

I don't understand the article's logic.

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