March of the crystals

Sep 04, 2015 • 11:26 PM UTC

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140x Magnification

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Manu Prakash

I am a faculty at Stanford and run the Prakash Lab at Department of Bioengineering at Stanford University. Foldscope community is at the heart of our Frugal Science movement - and I can not tell you how proud I am of this community and grassroots movement. Find our work here: http://prakashlab.stanford.edu

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Inspired by the series of posts from the “ frozen project ” by a 6-year old and mom; I brought out my Vitamin C crystal bottle again.
See Frozen project series here: http://microcosmos.foldscope.com/2015/05/20/the-frozen-project-the-conclusion/
@Laks and I have previously posted extensively on Vitamin C crystallization and also it’s biological implications [ see post here ]
Now it was time for me to explore time-lapse techniques for imaging crystal formation. I have previously described my time-lapse techniques here . Also, several fantastic posts have been made on “ how to incorporate cross polarizers” in foldscope to get birefringent effects; in a broad range of samples. Another incredible posts exists on how to image static crystals in polarization foldscope .
So when you combine all the above, you get my band of marching crystals. This is a time lapse with the video speed being 4X to 20X. The rate of growth of the crystal depends on the speed of evaporation. All I do is break a simple vitamin C pill in water; and mix very well. I put a drop on a glass slide and mount it inside my foldscope; with an iPhone used to capture. I run a default 1 image per minute time lapse and just watch the water evaporate. I find the boundary conditions created by these crystals fascinating. I am sure you will enjoy the video. So without further delay; I present to you – “The March of the Crystals”

You want to recreate this – since every time the crystals forms; they will take unique patterns. I wonder if I confine them in a shape of a star; what would they look like. Only one way to find out..
cheers
manu