62 reactions | These are sulfur bacteria Beggiatoa magnified 1000x,...

This tiny droplet of liquid is loaded with dissolved inorganic compounds; phosphorus, potassium, iron, and a whole mix of other minerals. As the liquid evaporates, those dissolved compounds crystallize. Different chemicals form different crystal structures, which is why you see several shapes growing at once. I sped the video up quite a bit; the whole process took around seven minutes. I’m also sharing the same clip without cuts or text so you can watch the full thing without any distractions. P