article_snippet: On the outside, quasicrystals are solid minerals that look like quite normal, but it is their inner structure that fascinates scientists.
article_snippet: Instead of the regularly repeating clusters of atoms seen in most crystals, quasicrystals contain a more subtle and intricate atomic arrangement involving two or more repeating clusters.
article_snippet: As a result, a quasicrystal’s atoms can be arranged in ways that are not commonly found in crystals, such as the shape of a 20-sided icosahedron with the symmetry of a soccer ball.
article_snippet: The difference between crystals and quasicrystals can be visualized by imagining a tiled floor: Tiles that are six-sided hexagons can fit neatly against each other to cover the entire floor.
article_snippet: Quasicrystals are very hard, have low friction, and don't conduct heat very well - making Quasicrystals good candidates for applications such as protective coatings on items ranging from airplanes to non-stick cookware.
article_snippet: the quasicrystal is made up of aluminum, nickel and iron, which normally are not found together in the same mineral because aluminum binds quickly to oxygen, blocking attachment to nickel and iron.