Inside Uranus and Neptune Lie Oceans of Magma ⚡ экспресс
Uranus and Neptune are commonly interpreted as 'ice giants' with a high abundance of volatiles, forming the basis of most interior structure models. Here we show that their observed radii, mean densities, gravitational harmonics, normalized moments of inertia, intrinsic luminosities, and key atmospheric composition features are consistent with models featuring supercritical, hydrogen-rich magma oceans overlain by hydrogen-helium envelopes. Using only three fitting parameters per planet, the results provide a parsimonious explanation for the structure, thermal state, and atmospheric chemistry of Uranus and Neptune. We find that the Solar System's ice giants are better described as magma-ocean giants, whose origin parallels that of gas dwarf planets like sub-Neptunes. This continuum among gas dwarfs makes Uranus and Neptune accessible, data-driven benchmarks for structural models and material properties applied to the study of sub-Neptunes.
Previously, Uranus and Neptune were considered ice giants because of assumed thick layers of frozen water, methane, and ammonia. New calculations paint a different picture: deep inside them hides an ocean of hot magma, which under immense pressure has absorbed a colossal amount of hydrogen. This ocean is like superheated soda pop — only instead of syrupy soda, you have molten rock, and instead of carbon dioxide fizz, it's light hydrogen, making the whole mixture less dense.
This model neatly explains the planets' size, mass, heat, and even the composition of their atmospheres, where clouds of hydrogen and helium float. Now it's clear that these planets are the closest cousins of the many worlds discovered around other stars. And the most unexpected fact: inside this magmatic ocean, hydrogen is compressed so intensely that it turns into a metallic liquid — an excellent conductor of electricity. That's probably what produces the bizarre magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune, unlike Earth's.
🎯 Inside Uranus and Neptune, hydrogen is compressed into a metallic liquid, explaining their bizarre magnetic fields.