Scientifically speaking, the term “crystal” refers to any solid that has an ordered chemical structure. This means that its parts are arranged in a precisely ordered pattern, like bricks in a wall.

Whether you know it or not, you encounter crystals in your everyday life quite regularly. Table salt, sugar and snowflakes are classified as types of crystals, as are many gemstones—including amethyst ...

Trovants are rocks that grow by absorbing minerals from rainwater. Romania is home to a cluster of trovants that inspired folklore of dinosaur eggs, plant fossils and alien creations. When you ...

Michigan researchers were part of a team that has solved a 200-year mystery of growing a common mineral in a laboratory, a development that may one day allow them to produce the substance for ...

If you dissolve sugar in hot water and then cool it down, you'll see pure sugar crystals form while impurities stay in the liquid. You can even watch the beautiful sugar crystals slowly grow in the ...

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their ...