New research by MIT scientists raises the possibility that a so-called ionic liquid could support life in worlds without water. Lab experiments show that ionic liquids can form from chemical ingredients that likely exist on the surface of some rocky planets and moons. 

Organic matter helps soil lock in moisture, but exact mechanism was previously unclear. Scientists studied the process by mixing minerals with three types of sugar. Carbohydrates strengthened binding energy of water by five times. Findings could lead to drought-resistant soils or explain how water might persist on other planets.

While studying layered two-dimensional materials, ICFO researchers observed an anomaly—an unexpected transition in the system’s state triggered by light. That anomaly turned out to be single-photon sensitivity with extraordinary properties which were previously inaccessible: the ability to detect long-wavelength photons (up to the mid-infrared) at relatively high temperatures.

The results of this study, published in Science, open the door to a wide range of applications, from bioimaging to observational astronomy and quantum technologies.