Feature Physics

The pressure is on to make metallic hydrogen

Scientists are closing in on turning hydrogen into a metal in liquid or solid form

Z machine

UNDER PRESSURE  Physicists use powerful electrical pulses in the Z machine at Sandia National Laboratories to create liquid metallic hydrogen for fleeting moments.

Randy Montoya/Sandia Labs

By Emily Conover

- More than 2 years ago

In a few highly specialized laboratories, scientists bombard matter with the world’s most powerful electrical pulses or zap it with sophisticated lasers.