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.

Kidney stones are solid deposits of minerals that can form in the kidneys, also known as renal calculi. They can be made up of various types of crystals, with the most abundant crystal determining the ...

MOLINE, Ill. — Snowflakes are frozen water crystals that can never be an exact replica of another. However, snowflakes can be classified into these broader types: dendrites, plates, columns, needles, ...

They may be an astronomer's worst enemy but clouds play a crucial role in making Earth habitable. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Crystals—from sugar and table salt to snowflakes and diamonds—don't always grow in a straightforward way. New York University researchers have captured this journey from amorphous blob to orderly ...

Sometimes, compounds crystallize in unexpected ways. This is a problem for drug manufacturers, who need to create consistent products. Scientists are working to understand why substances take on ...