Denizens of oceans, lakes and even wet soil, diatoms are unicellular algae that encase themselves in intricately patterned, glass-like shells. Curiously, these tiny phytoplankton could be harboring the next big breakthrough in computer chips.

A deeper fundamental understanding of complex materials may now be possible, due to a new insight into how crystals form. A previously unknown mathematical relationship between the different arrangements that interacting particles can take while freezing has been discovered. The discovery could give scientists insight into the essential behaviors of materials such as polymers, which are the basis of plastics.