Researchers have found that, inside a liquid, not every atom is moving. Some atoms stay fixed in place even when the temperature is very high. These motionless atoms have a major effect on how a liquid turns into a solid, including the creation of an unusual state of matter known as a corralled supercooled liquid. The way materials solidify is crucial in many natural processes, such as mineralization, the formation of ice, and the folding of protein fibrils. Solidification is also central to many technologies, from pharmaceuticals to metal-based industries,…
