• A quasicrystal, an 'impossible' crystal structure, was discovered in trinitite formed during the Trinity nuclear test.
• The quasicrystal's unique atomic structure offers insights into the extreme conditions created by nuclear explosions.
• This discovery could be valuable for nuclear forensics, offering a permanent record of past nuclear tests.

Scientists have discovered a quasicrystal, a rare and unusually structured crystal, within red trinitite found at the site of the Trinity nuclear test in New Mexico, the location of the first-ever nuclear bomb detonation on July 16, 1945. This crystal, formed under extreme heat and pressure, exhibits a five-fold rotational symmetry, a structure previously considered impossible. This discovery provides valuable information about the conditions within a nuclear explosion and could be used to improve nuclear forensics.

• What: Discovery of a quasicrystal, a crystal with non-repeating atomic patterns, in red trinitite formed during the Trinity nuclear test.
• Who: Scientists, including Terry Wallace at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
• When: The Trinity test was conducted on July 16, 1945, at 5:29 am. The discovery of the quasicrystal was published in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) in 2021.
• Where: Trinity test site, New Mexico.

The discovery of a quasicrystal at the Trinity test site is significant because it provides a new way to understand the extreme conditions generated by nuclear explosions. Quasicrystals are rare and form under intense pressure, shock, and temperature. Their presence in trinitite offers a permanent record of the event, unlike radioactive materials which decay over time. This could be a powerful tool for nuclear forensics, allowing scientists to analyze past nuclear tests, even those conducted without official records. Further research could help understand nuclear explosions and the long-lasting effects of nuclear weapons, potentially improving monitoring systems and transparency in global nuclear activities.

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 within trinitite from the Trinity nuclear test represents a remarkable scientific breakthrough. This unique crystal structure provides valuable insight into the extreme conditions created by nuclear explosions and offers a potential tool for nuclear forensics. Ongoing research into quasicrystals may lead to a more comprehensive understanding of nuclear tests and the long-term consequences of nuclear weapons, thereby contributing to improved monitoring systems and greater transparency in global nuclear activities. The thermodynamic explanation for its creation is still a mystery.