Microsculptures made easy

Minerals assemble on demand into tiny, complex shapes like flowers

FLORAL DISPLAY Red flowerlike structures grew on green spiral stems. Scientists can grow such structures from minerals by carefully manipulating pH, temperature and carbon dioxide concentration. This micrograph is false colored but reflects the structure's actual colors.

Courtesy of Wim Noorduin

The art of growing tiny, intricate floral structures has become a science.