Cosmos
Cosmos is a quarterly science magazine. We aim to inspire curiosity in ‘The Science of Everything’ and make the world of science accessible to everyone.
By Cosmos
There is still no evidence that crystals have any healing properties. But that doesn’t mean they’re not a crucial part of other research fields. Here are 5 things scientists did with crystals in 2024 – and a 6th crystalline mystery solved.
These pink crystals use magnets to super-cool hydrogen
Researchers have made a material capable of cooling substances to -253°C using magnets – enough to liquefy hydrogen.
They say their research could provide a cheaper and more sustainable way to supercool hydrogen fuel for storage and transport.
Lithium batteries made more durable with hotter crystals
Researchers have found a way to grow crystals they say could be capable of powering a lithium battery-powered electric vehicle for 1 million kilometres.
Flurry or spiral? Snowflake falls influence forecasts
The motion of falling snowflakes can be used to help predict precipitation, according to a new study.
The research, which modelled 3D-printed ice crystals falling in glycerine, could be used to improve weather and cloud predictions.
Deep ocean crystals reveal clues about origins of life
Nanometre-sized crystals more than 5km beneath the sea in the Mariana Trench hold hints about the origins of life, according to researchers.
The self-organised nanostructures, which were found around hydrothermal vents, can act in ways that produce electricity.
Transistor smaller than a nanometre made with crystal growth
Researchers have built a transistor smaller than a nanometre.
They’ve figured out how to grow metallic materials 0.4 nanometres wide, and a few tens of micrometres long, which they have then incorporated into tiny transistors.
Mystery of the Crystal Palace’s 190-day construction solved
This is not a crystal science story in quite the same sense as the others on the list – the Crystal Palace was made of glass, not crystals – but it’s such a bizarre story that we couldn’t help but share it again.
The Crystal Palace was a feat of modern engineering when it was constructed in 1851, and many people have wondered how such a giant building could be erected in just 190 days.
Now, researchers think they’ve figured it out: the key is in the screws.
