Tag

Crystals

All articles tagged with #crystals

science12 days ago•57 min saved

Trinity glass hides a rare silicon-based clathrate formed in the first nuclear blast

Scientists analyzing red trinitite from the 1945 Trinity nuclear test found a previously unseen clathrate crystal, where silicon cages trap copper and calcium in 12- and 14-sided lattices—the first clathrate crystal produced by a nuclear explosion. The Trinity detonation's extreme temperatures (~2700°F/1500°C) and pressures (up to 8 GPa) likely forced atoms into unlikely configurations, expanding our understanding of mineral formation under extreme conditions.

via Live Science|

#clathrate #crystals #science

science2 months ago•5 min saved

Chimps Favor Crystals, Hinting at Ancient Cognitive Bias

Enculturated chimpanzees at a Madrid sanctuary repeatedly preferred crystals over ordinary rocks, inspecting their transparency and shape, and even sorting them into groups. The behavior mirrors perceptual biases that may have guided early human cognition toward recognizing symmetry and Euclidean form, potentially influencing the development of symbolic thought—though the study is small and requires replication in wild apes.

via Indian Defence Review|

#chimpanzees #cognition #crystals

animals2 months ago•44 min saved

Chimp Crystals Hint at Deep Evolution of Humans' Fascination with Shiny Stones

Encultured chimpanzees showed a strong attraction to quartz crystals, preferring them over ordinary rocks, carrying crystals to sleeping areas, and even selecting crystals from a pile in tests, suggesting a possible deep evolutionary pull toward shiny minerals. The findings could shed light on why humans have long valued crystals and gems, hinting at cognitive roots for value, though results must be interpreted cautiously since the chimps were not wild and replication in wild populations is needed.

via Good News Network|

#ancestors #animals #chimpanzees

science2 months ago•1 min saved

Mexico’s Cave of Crystals: 11m Gypsum Giants Beneath a 58°C, 90% Humidity Hall

Mexico's Cave of Crystals in Chihuahua lies about 300 metres underground and holds gypsum crystals up to 11 metres long, earning it the nickname 'Sistine Chapel of crystals.' The cave formed as mineral-rich groundwater rose through rock after magma heated the area, stabilising at around 58°C, but with 90% humidity, making it deadly to explore without specialist equipment.

via BBC Wildlife Magazine|

#crystals #gypsum #humidity

science2 months ago•6 min saved

Chimpanzee Crystal Craze Hints at Ancient Geometry

Researchers at a Spanish chimpanzee sanctuary handed quartz crystals to two groups of rescued chimps; the apes showed strong interest—dragging, examining, and even trading bananas or yogurt to recover the largest crystal—while others sorted crystals by type. García-Ruiz suggests chimps’ attraction to crystals may stem from their Euclidean geometry, hinting at ancient cognitive roots shared with humans.

via Boing Boing|

#animal-cognition #chimpanzees #crystals

science2 months ago•10 min saved

Crystal Allure: Which Chimps Are Born to Wield Quartz

Researchers tested nine chimpanzees at a Spanish rehab center, offering crystals and ordinary stones and observing that chimps distinguished crystals and showed varying levels of attraction, with individuals like Toti and especially Sandy displaying the strongest engagement. The study highlights a “crystal allure” in chimps, fueling playful speculation about which chimp could become a symbolic “crystal healer,” while noting the findings are exploratory and tied to broader debates about human-crystal fascination.

via defector.com|

#chimpanzees #crystal-allure #crystals

science5 months ago•2 min saved

Discovery of Crystal Dinosaur Eggs in China Reveals Hidden Fossil Secrets

Two well-preserved fossilized dinosaur eggs with internal crystal formations were discovered in China's Anhui province, attributed to a new oospecies, Shixingoolithus qianshanensis, highlighting the region's rich paleontological record and the preservation of ancient nesting sites.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#china #crystals #dinosaur-eggs

science7 months ago•4 min saved

Scientists Use Ultrafast Lasers and Gold Nanoparticles to On-Demand Grow Crystals for New Materials

Scientists have developed a novel laser-based technique to 'draw' crystals precisely where needed in electronic devices using plasmonic heating of gold nanoparticles, potentially reducing costs and improving performance in applications like solar cells and sensors.

via Space|

#crystals #laser #light

science7 months ago•4 min saved

Titan's Lakes Reveal Unusual Chemistry Breaking Earthly Rules

Scientists have discovered that on Saturn's moon Titan, polar and non-polar molecules like hydrogen cyanide and hydrocarbons can form stable co-crystals at extremely cold temperatures, challenging traditional chemical rules and suggesting complex interactions in Titan's lakes that could influence its geology and potential prebiotic chemistry.

via ScienceAlert|

#chemistry #crystals #hydrogen-cyanide

science9 months ago•2 min saved

Semiconductor Wafer on ISS Examined Under Microscope

A semiconductor wafer with crystals grown aboard the International Space Station was imaged under a microscope, demonstrating the potential of microgravity to improve the quality of semimetal-semiconductor crystals for electronic devices, addressing challenges faced on Earth in producing pure, uniform crystals.

via Space|

#crystals #iss #microgravity

gaming10 months ago•4 min saved

Kirby and Star-Crossed World: New Abilities, Upgrades, and Trailer Highlights

The article predicts that the Kirby: Star-Crossed World DLC will reveal new lore involving crystals and star characters called Starries, who may be responsible for sealing away evil entities like Void Termina and Galacta Knight, with hints suggesting possible appearances or references to these characters.

via Nintendo Everything|

#crystals #galacta-knight #gaming

science10 months ago•5 min saved

Space Ice Contains Hidden Crystals, Challenging Water Assumptions

A new study reveals that 'space ice' contains tiny crystals and is not fully amorphous as previously thought, which has implications for understanding cosmic processes and the origins of life. The research shows that low-density amorphous ice in space includes embedded crystalline structures, challenging earlier assumptions and opening new questions about the nature of amorphous materials.

via Phys.org|

#amorphous-ice #cosmology #crystals

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Scientists Uncover Mystery Behind Crystal's Dual Melting Points

Researchers have solved a 120-year-old mystery regarding the compound acetaldehyde phenylhydrazone, which exhibits two distinct melting points. The phenomenon is due to a minuscule contamination that causes the compound to form two different liquid structures upon melting, depending on exposure to acid or base. This results in the compound having a lower melting point when exposed to acid, which acts as a catalyst for isomer conversion. The study highlights the compound's sensitivity to acid and the role of isomer configurations in its melting behavior.

via ScienceAlert|

#chemistry #crystals #isomers

science2 years ago•3 min saved

"Ancient Crystals Unveil Earth's First Rains 4 Billion Years Ago"

A new study of the world's oldest zircon crystals from the Jack Hills in Western Australia reveals that Earth had both oceans and freshwater lakes as early as 4 billion years ago. This discovery suggests that the early Earth had conditions suitable for the formation of life, with evidence of both fresh and salty water exposure in the zircons. The findings challenge previous theories and indicate that the planet was more similar to today's Earth than previously thought. The study is published in Nature Geoscience.

via IFLScience|

#crystals #earth #geology

science-and-technology2 years ago•4 min saved

"Scientists Unveil X-Ray Vision to Peer Inside Crystals"

Researchers at New York University have developed a technique called "Crystal Clear" that allows scientists to visualize the internal structure of colloidal crystals in three dimensions. Using transparent particles, dye molecules, and confocal microscopy, they can create dynamic models to study the arrangement and defects within crystals, providing new insights into crystallization processes and potentially aiding in the development of better materials.

via Phys.org|

#colloidal-particles #crystals #defects