So far in this series, pretty much every material we’ve covered has had to undergo a significant industrial process to transform it from its natural state to a more useful product. Whether it’s the ...

Above: A hexagonal (six-sided) snow crystal, classified as a stellar dendrite. This crystal was photographed with an Olympus TG-6 camera after it landed on the sleeve of the authors fleece jacket.

Editor’s note: This story first published on Dec. 1, 2017. Full of wonder with its showcase of colorful crystal formations, Ohio Caverns is a hidden treasure in West Liberty. Here are five things to ...

Calcium sulphate minerals, notably gypsum and bassanite, play a critical role in natural and industrial settings. Recent research into their mineralogy and crystal growth dynamics has advanced our ...