Researchers say they’ve used high pressure to coax helium into a stable compound of sorts. So it seemed that would be a good way to look for much more stable helium compounds. And indeed, today’s claim is about a stable compound between helium and sodium that forms at high pressure. The helium compound’s special bonding arrangement classifies it as an “electride,” a substance where electrons are trapped in otherwise empty voids. Now, the ultimate test is: Will other scientists be able to reproduce this helium compound?

Source: Forbes February 07, 2017 19:10 UTC