Nano “Flowers” by Wim Noorduin

No soil is needed for these flowers; instead, substitute earth for sodium silicate to grow these crystal flowers. Lovingly tended to by Harvard University scientist Wim Noorduin, these nano “flowers” are crystalline structures that have been formed and colored by chemical processes. By changing the temperature, pH, and carbon dioxide of the petri dish planters, Noorduin is able to grow intricate, delicate, and microscopic fields of blooms. Though the process isn’t revolutionary by scientific means, the transplantation of a common tool in crystal growth research to an artistic application is Noorduin’s noteworthy discovery. The curled crystal petals of the brilliantly red flower that represents Noorduin’s first is a treasure indeed, one whose beauty is only visible to those who look for it – that is, through a microscope.

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