My Actifit Report Card: October 18 2025

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Ice is not as static and dull as it seems. A new study published in Nature Physics has found that when ordinary ice is bent, twisted or stretched — it actually generates electricity. The phenomenon is called flexoelectricity. Researchers from Spain, China and the US have discovered that the electrical behavior of ice changes with temperature — upending scientists’ previous beliefs.

Unlike piezoelectricity, flexoelectricity does not require a special crystal structure. Experiments have shown that bending ice between electrodes creates an electrical charge — much like the charge that builds up in storm clouds before lightning strikes. Even more surprising is that at extremely cold temperatures, a thin ferroelectric layer forms on the surface of the ice, which can change its electrical polarity like a magnet.

Lead researcher Xin Wen said, “This research changes the way we look at ice — from a passive material to an active material.” The discovery will not only help us understand how thunderstorms store charge, but it also suggests that ice could be useful in sensors, capacitors, and other electronic devices in the future.
This report was published via Actifit app (Android | iOS). Check out the original version here on actifit.io

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