https://hackerpaper.kaipfister.de/p/0802.3408/Collected HN comments and submissions linking this paper.enMon, 02 Nov 2026 11:16:22 GMThttps://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38842445urn:hackerpapers:mention:0802.3408:38842445Tue, 02 Jan 2024 15:12:21 GMT<p>This is a much more exciting study than it originally seems. They appear to claim that an observed state of sodium at high pressure has bonds between core electrons. If you recall from your chemistry class, bonds were only known to occur between valence electrons. This is an entirely new regime of chemistry that can best be described as &quot;here there be dragons.&quot; Bonds between core electrons are predicted to be thousands of time stronger than bonds between valence bonds. So while incredibly unlikely, it may be possible for materials orders of magnitude stronger to exist. Even if such materials…</p><p><a href="https://hackerpaper.kaipfister.de/p/0802.3408/">Paper and discussion history</a>. A mention is not an endorsement.</p>physics.class-ph