Materials like this crystal produce these electric fields when they are heated.

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In order to make a photonic crystal, though, the materials have to be organised into structures no more than a wavelength of light apart.

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The boundaries between the materials create reflective surfaces within the crystal.

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While gadget hounds delighted in the new iPad, materials-science geeks lamented the continuing dominance of power-hungry liquid-crystal displays that use heavy pieces of glass.

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The smaller eggs offer a choice of materials, techniques and styles such as carved stones and minerals, as varied as rock crystal, chrysoprase, snowflake obsidian, lavender jade, jadeite, pink opal, rutilated quartz, jasper and turquoise.

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High-tech lab analyses revealed panguite's chemical composition and crystal structure, which Ma said is new, and as such, could be explored for novel engineering materials.

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Sometimes two crystalline materials that do not react with each other can be mixed to form a so-called co-crystal.

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