C. Austen Angell

The science of setback

Nobody likes having the rug pulled out from under them. But it can be a good experience for a scientist. Setbacks lead to new questions, which ultimately produce new answers. --by Nicholas Gerbis

A glassy riddle: solving the mystery of water glass

Glass is much more than the stuff of windows and mirrors. The scientific term "glass" refers to substances that cool and become rigid without taking on a crystalline structure. The nature of glass is still a mystery to chemists. Glassy water is the biggest enigma of all. --by Nicholas Gerbis

New clue in the mystery of glassy water

The "glassy state" is a sub-state of matter–glassy water and ice, for example, are chemically identical and are both solid, but have a different structure. Put another way, ice is crystalline, whereas glass is, well, chunky. Scientists know a lot about glasses that form from ordinary silicates, sugars and metals. But when water makes the transition to its glassy state, it behaves very oddly. ASU chemist C. Austen Angell has found a vital clue that helps explain water's bizarre behavior at the glass transition and gained important insights into phases of liquid water, as well. --by Nicholas Gerbis

Office of the Vice President for Research & Economic Affairs
Fulton Center, 3rd Floor: 300 E University Drive. | PO Box 877205, Tempe, AZ 85287-7205
Phone: 480-965-1225 | Fax: 480-965-8293 | Site contact