Scientists Only Just Learned Why Ice Is Slippery

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During the UK’s recent snowy and icy spell, you might have tried salting your driveway to prevent, or “melt”, ice.

That likely works because of an ongoing battle between water and ice on the top layer of a slippery sheet. Sodium’s structure means its ions break apart in water , making it harder for H2O molecules to stick together – thus lowering the melting point of ice.

Until recently, most scientists thought that a thin layer of water on ice was to blame for its slipperiness, too. The idea was that pressure or friction applied to ice led its top layer to melt, leaving a slick film of liquid.

But recent research, published in Physical Review Letters , has blown that theory apart.

Why is ice really slippery?

The water theory might not explain why ice st