Crystals have fascinated us for centuries with their beauty and symmetry, and have often been invested with magical powers. The use of X-ray diffraction, first pioneered in 1912 by father and son William and Lawrence Bragg, enabled us to probe the structure of molecules, and heralded the scientific study of crystals, leading to an understanding of their atomic arrangements at a fundamental level. The new discipline, called X-ray crystallography, has...

Hit the road to discover the rock cycle, the science behind this incredible process, and why it is responsible for the rock stars that are crystals. Read case studies that reveal the best places on Earth to see different types of crystals, discover how you can find and identify crystals, and take the ultimate knowledge test with the rock cycle road trip quiz!