How do crystals work? - Graham Baird

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Published 2019-06-18

What makes crystals grow into their signature shapes? Dig into the atomic patterns and unique properties of crystals.

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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.

Lesson by Graham Baird, directed by Franz Palomares.

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All Comments (21)

@TEDEd 5 years ago

Have you ever wondered why you can see through glass, or what fire is made of? Find out more about the fascinating makeup of our environment with these videos: bit.ly/2KlSnUp
@CaressaBrowArtistry 5 years ago

I thought this video was going to talk about the properties of crystals on a spiritual level
@kirbymarchbarcena 5 years ago

The explanation in this video is totally crystal clear.
@theodore23sanchez 5 years ago

Thank you, TedEd! As a Geology student who almost failed his Mineralogy lecture, this video is far more understandable than my 80-year-old, 500-page thick secondhand Mineralogy textbook.
@nishthagupta1357 4 years ago

One of the rarest voices that teaches you at a slow pace so you can understand what's actually going on. I could keep up with every element that you mentioned. Thanks Graham & Franz! 💙
@mohammediliyas5951 5 years ago

The best voice is again back. By the way animations are amazing.
@charm5666 5 years ago

This video should be called "How do crystals form" not how do they work
@waynedombrowski7568 3 years ago

I'm a mineral collector,mainly those that fluoresce under ultraviolet. Crystals are utterly fascinating in that you are essentially looking at their atomic structure blown up to a visible scale. The physics of fluorescence just renders them utterly,endlessly fascinating to me.
@marijaruzic4815 5 years ago

I'm mineralogiest and finally I can show people right animation when I'm explaining how this works! Thanks!
@samuelkunzler5413 5 years ago

Thanks Ted-Ed for giving me my weekly learning fix
@jademirror 5 years ago

There are some young, hot igneous rocks in a hot-spot near you!
@Katia_Managan 5 years ago

Me, at a rock show: “We’ve been over this. My wallet’s light this month. I can’t afford any more-“ My crow brain: “JuSt TaKe! ThE sHiNiEs! MoRe! TaKe sHiNiEs!”
@James-og6cx 1 year ago

Crystals such as quartz are piezoelectric, which means they actually do have 'energy' and can produce it when struck.
@PuzzlesExplained 5 years ago

Wow, really nice 3D animation on this one. Super educational video.
@TheGreatCooLite 5 years ago

I thought quartz was only found in the nether
@geicolizard5717 2 years ago

If this subject Interests you: I recommend looking up Bowens reaction series. It’s pretty much a chart that shows the temp at which minerals melt and cool to form crystals. Longer cooling time=bigger/more visible crystals. It’s also I good way to understand the terms Mafic and Felsic! :)
@justarandomperson2020 3 years ago

“How do crystals work” At this day and age even crystals are better than me at finding a job 😔
@chroma9848 5 years ago

I'm gonna fail my Calculus III exam tomorrow but hey, I understand crystals. Edit: why tf are there so many likes, the exam was ok.
@stephanobuddle837 4 years ago

This is the best explanation I have ever received about how the geometric patterns of crystals are formed and crystallography in general
@shubhashreebarik1671 2 years ago

I am doing PhD in material science and this has driven my interest even more! Loved this video!