Science Visualized Physics

Videos of gold nanoparticles snapping together show how some crystals grow

The finding could aid in the design of materials whose properties depend on crystal structures

A microscopic image of columns of black particles. The top row has gold dots in the center

Physicists have now made real-time videos (a still from one shown) of nanoscopic particles locking together into crystals.

Erik Luijten and Qian Chen

By James R. Riordon

Mesmerizing videos offer a new look at the ways crystals form.

The real-time clips, described March 30 in Nature Nanotechnology, show closeup views of microscopic gold particles tumbling, sliding and flitting about before clicking into place in crystalline structures.