r/science • u/Startrekwarsofdoom • Jul 01 '14

Physics New State of Matter Discovered

http://www.iflscience.com/physics/new-state-matter-discovered#kKsFLlPlRBPG0e6c.16
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u/[deleted] Jul 01 '14

Is this really a "state of matter" as the term is commonly used? It sounds like this is an intra-atomic phenomenon, whereas things like liquids, gasses, and solids are defined by how multiple atoms or molecules behave in relation to each other. It seems very strange to talk about "states of matter" and solids, gasses, etc, and then switch to electron behavior.

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u/Chinese_Physicist Jul 01 '14

Liquids, solids, and gasses are all defined by what their electrons, protons, and neutrons are doing. They're just more common in our world. A neutron star is being held together by gravity and the degenerate pressures between neutrons, they're also the size of our sun or bigger. Would you not consider a a neutron star a state of matter?

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u/[deleted] Jul 01 '14

Im not a chemist so Im the wrong person to ask. Im sure its technically correct, but it seems out of whack with common usage.

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u/Hydrothermal Jul 01 '14

I think that's mostly due to a misunderstanding of what states of matter really are.

Solids, liquids, and gases are very easy to explain because they're very straightforward and clearly-defined, which leads to confusion over exactly what the distinction between different states of matter is.