Scientists Successfully Manipulate Liquid Properties

Scientists have successfully compressed a liquid, specifically water, by up to 20 times its normal volume using a metal-organic framework (MOF) called ZIF-8. By dispersing extremely small particles of the MOF in water, the empty spaces within the hydrophobic pores of the MOF allowed for the compression of the liquid when subjected to high pressure. Although some researchers argue that the material is a dispersion of nanoscale particles rather than a homogeneous fluid, the technique could have potential applications in shock absorption and acoustics.