The Chihuahuan Desert is a sparse but stunning ecosystem straddling the border between Northern Mexico, Southern New Mexico, and West Texas. High in elevation and low in humidity, the desert plays ...

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.

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 ...

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 ...