How do crystals work?

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Graham Baird |

TED-Ed

• June 2019

Many crystals have signature shapes— like the cascade of pointed quartz or a pile of galena cubes. Every crystal's atoms have a defining feature: their organized, repeating pattern. The pattern isn't restricted to minerals- sand, ice, metals and DNA also have crystalline structures. So what causes them to grow into these shapes again and again? Graham Baird dives into the unique properties of crystals. [Directed by Franz Palomares, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Carlos Palomares].