Researchers Discover Unique Crystal Formed During 1945 Nuclear Bomb Test
In 1945, the first nuclear bomb test, known as the Trinity explosion, was conducted in New Mexico, resulting in the formation of a unique type of glass called trinitite. Recently, researchers have discovered that some red trinitite contains previously unknown crystals. These crystals, identified as clathrate structures, were formed under the extreme conditions of the nuclear blast, which included temperatures exceeding 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit and pressures reaching 8 gigapascals. The study, published in the journal PNAS, highlights the presence of silicon-rich quasicrystals and clathrate crystals, which are rare in nature. The findings provide new insights into mineral formation under extreme conditions. 
