Natural Quasicrystals

The transcript details a research journey to find natural quasi crystals, starting with a collaboration between the speaker and an undergraduate student, Pierlou, at Princeton. Despite initial failures, the research continued with Luca Bindi from the Mineralogical Museum in Florence. After years of effort, a quasi crystal was finally discovered in a mineral from Russia, marking a significant breakthrough.

What was the primary goal of the initial project with Pierlou?

• To explore the American Natural History Museum

• To find a natural quasi crystal

• To develop a new type of electron microscope

• To write a paper on crystal structures

Who joined the search for quasi crystals six years later?

• Luca Bindi

• Shackman

• Ken Defay

• Pierlou

What was unique about the mineral that Luca Bindi found?

• It was from the American Natural History Museum

• It contained metallic aluminum

• It was the largest sample ever found

• It was already identified as a quasi crystal

What challenge did the team face when trying to use the electron microscope?

• They couldn't find the lab

• The microscope was booked for several months

• The microscope was broken

• They didn't have a sample to test

What indicated the successful identification of a quasi crystal in the sample?

• A unique diffraction pattern

• A change in color

• A new mineral formation

• A large crystal structure