Awe-inspiring symmetries with profound consequences in nature.
Structures with perfect symmetries govern the physics of solid matter. Order in nature has always mesmerized us, so much that, in the ancient times, it was deemed a sign of divine design. As our understanding of nature progressed, rational explanations replaced the old supernatural beliefs. Today we know that atoms in a solid arrange in an ordered lattice that minimizes the energy cost. Wonderful crystalline patterns arise that determine the properties of the whole material, such as its transparency and its hardness.
A zoom into crystalline structures.
What properties do they have?