• A quasicrystal, exhibiting five-fold symmetry, was discovered in trinitite formed during the Trinity nuclear test.
• The quasicrystal's unique structure provides insights into the extreme conditions of a nuclear explosion and thermodynamic processes.
• This discovery offers a potential tool for nuclear forensics, allowing long-term analysis of nuclear tests due to the crystal's enduring nature.

Scientists have discovered a quasicrystal within red trinitite, a mineral created during the Trinity nuclear test on July 16, 1945, in New Mexico. This crystal exhibits a five-fold rotational symmetry, defying conventional crystallography. The discovery sheds light on the conditions of nuclear explosions and offers a new tool for nuclear forensics, as quasicrystals can persist indefinitely, providing a lasting record of past nuclear tests.

• What: Discovery of a quasicrystal with five-fold rotational symmetry within red trinitite formed during the Trinity nuclear test. This quasicrystal offers a permanent record of the explosion due to its non-decaying nature.
• Who: Scientists, including Terry Wallace from Los Alamos National Laboratory, are studying the quasicrystal. The Trinity test involved the detonation of the Gadget, a plutonium implosion device.
• When: The Trinity test occurred on July 16, 1945, at 5:29 am in New Mexico. The quasicrystal discovery was published in PNAS.
• Where: The Trinity test site in New Mexico, where the desert sand was transformed into trinitite. The quasicrystal was found within a tiny piece of red trinitite.

The discovery of a quasicrystal in the trinitite formed by the Trinity nuclear test is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it demonstrates the extreme conditions generated by nuclear explosions. Secondly, the quasicrystal's stability over time provides a unique opportunity for nuclear forensics, enabling analysis of past nuclear tests even in the absence of other evidence. This could enhance global nuclear monitoring and disarmament efforts. The fact that quasicrystals are formed in extreme environments adds to their value as indicators of past events involving immense energy release.

Quasicrystals are formed in extreme environments that rarely exist on Earth. They require a traumatic event with extreme shock, temperature, and pressure. We don’t typically see that, except in something as dramatic as a nuclear explosion.

This quasicrystal is magnificent in its complexity – but nobody can yet tell us why it was formed in this way.

Understanding other countries’ nuclear weapons requires that we have a clear understanding of their nuclear testing programs… a quasicrystal that is formed at the site of a nuclear blast can potentially tell us new types of information—and they’ll exist forever.

The discovery of a quasicrystal at the Trinity test site provides a new avenue for understanding nuclear explosions and their long-term effects. Its potential as a tool for nuclear forensics offers valuable insights into past nuclear activities and contributes to future monitoring and disarmament efforts. While the precise thermodynamic processes behind its formation remain unclear, further research promises to unlock a deeper understanding of nuclear explosions and their consequences.