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New Type of Chemical Bond Predicted To Exist In White Dwarfs

ananyo writes "A previously unknown type of powerful chemical bond should be induced by the ferocious magnetic fields of white dwarfs and neutron stars, according to computer simulations. If the effect can be harnessed in the lab, 'magnetized matter' could be exploited for quantum computing. Chemists identify two classes of strong molecular bonds: ionic bonds, in which electrons from one atom hop over to another, and covalent bonds, in which electrons are shared between atoms. But researchers at the University of Oslo accidentally discovered a third bonding mechanism when they simulated how atoms should behave under magnetic fields of about 105 tesla — 10,000 times the biggest fields that can be generated on Earth (abstract)."

6 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. Racist. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Why does it always have to be about race with you kids?

  2. God hates white dwarfs! by Antipater · · Score: 5, Funny

    They're destroying the sanctity of traditional chemical bonding!

    "Though shalt not lie with an atom magnetically as one would lie with an atom electrostatically. It is an abomination."

    - Pauliticus 18:22

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    Everything is better with chainsaws.
  3. Re:105 Tesla isn't that strong a field... by Teresita · · Score: 4, Funny

    Scientists discover an exotic fundamental particle called the ficton with the rest mass of a small moon that only existed in the unimaginable pressures and temperatures of the first 10^-25 seconds after the universe began its expansion. They promise it will allow users with next-generation PDAs to play Angry Birds with quantum computing.

  4. Re:Third type of chemical bond? by Luyseyal · · Score: 3, Funny

    Great, next you'll be telling me about nominative, accusative, and ablative bonds.

    -l

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  5. Re:Third type of chemical bond? by Muad'Dave · · Score: 3, Funny

    And Barry Bonds, and James Bonds, ...

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    Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
  6. Typo? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Shouldn't that be a ferrocious magnetic field?

    Sorry, somebody had to say it...