One of nature's wonders, a snowflake's hexagonal symmetry begins on the molecular level. Trillions of identical water molecules collect together in a cloud to form a single snowflake. Each molecule is comprised of just three atoms -- two Hydrogen and one Oxygen atom, H2O. Self-organization enables these simple ingredients to combine into intricate, six-sided yet endlessly variable designs. This repeating molecular structure classifies ice as a mineral. Photographs courtesy of Professor Kenneth Libbrecht at the California Institute of Technology.
Inside a precious opal, shafts of refracted pastel light and pinfire illuminate miniature caverns. Play of Color is a term mineralogists use to refer to the unique way lightwaves get refracted inside an opal, generating fluctuating colors. The screen shows a 3-millimeter wide area of the gem. Thi...
Under the surface of a freshwater pond, microscopic organisms graze on shimmering reefs of photosynthesizing algae and bacteria. Explore a jewel-like aquatic realm, home to single-celled ciliates like Euplotes, Coleps, and Paramecia, as well as miniscule animals called Rotifers. Created in collab...
Glide through the unique ecosystem of the Everglades National Park in Florida, USA. Luxuriate in the languid stillness of untamed nature.
