Atomic Model of a Quazicrystal Surface
Dr. Dan Shechtman, similar to the quazicrystals he discovered, isn’t afraid to be different. Despite years of ridicule and harsh skepticism from his peers, Dr. Shechtman received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2011 for the discovery of quaziperiodic crystals or quazicrystals.

Quazicrystals, unlike conventional crystals, lack symmetry in their ordered atomic structure. Prior to Shechtman’s discovery, it was widely accepted in the scientific community that repetition in atom packing inside crystals was necessary for their very existence. It wasn’t until the morning of April 8th, 1982 that Shechtman would unearth an image that would prompt him to ask the scientific community to follow him down the quazicrystal rabbit hole.

Dan Shechtman Ph.D.
The seemingly impossible image Shechtman exposed was that of a crystal with an arrangement of atoms that were not in repetition, similar to that of aperiodic mosaics. The discovery triggered oodles of uproar causing Shechtman’s own research team to ask him to ask him to leave the group.

Ultimately the scientific community had to re-evaluate their understanding of solid matter as other scientists obtained quazicrystals in the lab as well as discovered them naturally. Quazicrystals may have applications in diesel engines and frying pans but more importantly for use as a reminder that with an inquiring mind questioning the impossible might win you a Nobel Prize.