World's First Nuclear Bomb Test Creates 'Impossible' Crystal

Scientists have discovered a quasicrystal, a rare form of matter once thought to be impossible, in a sample of red trinitite created during the world's first nuclear bomb test in 1945. Quasicrystals are formed in extreme environments that rarely exist on Earth and require traumatic events with extreme shock, temperature, and pressure. The discovery of this quasicrystal in trinitite could provide insights into nuclear explosions and help in understanding illicit nuclear tests. It also suggests that there may be other natural pathways for the formation of quasicrystals, such as lightning strikes and meteor impact sites. The thermodynamic properties of quasicrystals could be a valuable tool for nuclear forensics.