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What are Quasicrystals? 💎✴️
They're a unique form of matter that breaks conventional rules of crystallography. They break the norms, offering a glimpse into nature's ability to create complex, non-repeating patterns on a microscopic level.
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They're a unique form of matter that breaks conventional rules of crystallography. They break the norms, offering a glimpse into nature's ability to create complex, non-repeating patterns on a microscopic level.
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Imagine a typical crystal, like salt or diamond. The atoms in these structures repeat in a 3D pattern. It's as predictable as seeing the same scene pass by when you're on a train looking out the window.
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Quasicrystals, on the other hand, defy this predictability. They're like a complex mystery novel that keeps you guessing, where the plot is symmetrical, orderly, but never duplicates itself exactly. There's an intriguing order, but it never repeats in a simple pattern.
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Another fascinating property of quasicrystals is their rotational symmetry. It's like a perfectly choreographed dance sequence, which can spin in harmony not just in the usual 2, 3, 4 or 6 directions, but also in 5, 8, 10 or 12 directions. This was once thought impossible!
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This unique symmetry is like a rule breaker in the world of crystallography, challenging what we once believed to be set in stone (or crystal!).
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You might appreciate the intricate patterns of a complex painting or a finely crafted mosaic. Quasicrystals, on a microscopic scale, offer a similar aesthetic appeal, a blend of order and complexity.
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Quasicrystals remind me that nature is full of surprises, often more complex and wondrous than we initially perceive. Like intriguing artwork, they invite us to look closer, discover more, and appreciate the beauty in complexity.
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