The process of a solid turning directly into a gas is called sublimation. This occurs when molecules in a solid gain enough energy to break free from their fixed positions and transition into a gas, bypassing the liquid phase. Sublimation is commonly observed in substances like dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) which, when exposed to room temperature, sublimates directly into carbon dioxide gas without becoming liquid. This phenomenon is used in various applications, including freeze-drying food and in certain industrial processes, demonstrating its significance in both nature and technology.