Soft nanoscale confinement prevents ice, exposing water's liquid-to-glass transition
Researchers have successfully observed the liquid-to-glass transition of water by confining it within nanoscale lipid-like membranes. This discovery helps explain how water behaves at extremely low temperatures, which is critical for advancements in cryopreservation and food-freezing technologies.
Why it matters
Understanding the fundamental properties of water at the nanoscale has significant implications for biological preservation and material science.
by Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)
edited by Swati Mestri , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Low-temperature behavior of water nanoconfined in phytantriol. Credit: Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-72955-y An international collaboration of researchers has used ANSTO's facilities to uncover new properties of one of the most fundamental everyday materials, water, and answer an important scientific question. The findings , published in Nature Communications , have practical implications for understanding water at very low temperatures. The findings are relevant to cryopreservation of biological materials, food-freezing technologies and understanding water in living cells, where it is often confined at the nanoscale.
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