Scientists overturn a 30-year theory, finally explaining why gallium melts in your hand

Theory Briefing

• Gallium melts at roughly 30°C, just below body temperature, making it one of the few metals that liquefies in a bare hand.
• University of Auckland scientists overturned the accepted 30-year-old explanation for this property, replacing it with a new structural account.
• The breakthrough came nearly 150 years after gallium's discovery, showing how long a seemingly simple physical quirk can resist full explanation.
• The finding matters beyond curiosity — gallium's low melting point underpins its use in electronics and liquid-metal technologies.