Author | Lightnews

Pocketful of χtals

@nhmlagems.bsky.social

1.4K followers 31 following 45 posts

Curator @NHMLA: Aaron Celestian, Ph.D. Writer and host of Pocketful of χtals (pronounced: crys-tals) https://open.substack.com/pub/aaroncelestian Researching how minerals can be used to solve problems like climate change, pollution, and disease.

open.substack.com

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Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Sep 22

I had a chance to wear the most expensive glasses ever—Mughal glasses from the 1700’s. Single crystal emerald and diamond lens. These are the original designs that inspired Tiffany’s remake a few years back.

Diamond: D flawless, and both lenses are from the same rough.

Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Sep 20

Daytime or nighttime? Midnight in big sky country.

Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Sep 16

Just started using Windsurf as my IDE for coding, and it’s pretty amazing. If you sign up with my personal link, you and I get 250 credits for free. I think that about 2 weeks of solid coding using only the AI (Claude Sonnet 4).

windsurf.com/refer?referr...

Referrals | Windsurf

Refer a friend and earn bonus add-on prompt credits.

windsurf.com

Reposted by Pocketful of χtals

Kayce Bell @kaycebell.bsky.social · Sep 4

October 1 deadline for @nhm.org Student Collections Study Award. Get some $$ to spend time collecting data in our collections, including @tarpits.org
Open to:
- current undergraduate and grad students
- *not* local to Los Angeles (international applicants welcome)
More:
nhm.org/student-coll...
🧪

Student Collections Study Award

The NHM Collections Study Awards provide funding for undergraduate and graduate students to visit and study the collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the La Brea Tar Pits & ...

nhm.org

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Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Aug 29

Great story in Eos that just came out :)

Eos @eos.org · Aug 26

⬆️ With comments from Kimberley Miner & Robert Green @ JPL, @nhmlagems.bsky.social, Mike Lamb @ Caltech, & Adit Ghosh @usc.edu. Story by @astrokimcartier.bsky.social.

Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Jul 24

One of our newest donations, this massive stibnite cluster from the Wuning Mine, China.

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Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Jul 2

Crystallography and its relation to steganography (hiding messages inside of messages). I dove in this strange relation, and it involves code breaking 😇

The Russian Radio Station That's Been Broadcasting Secrets for 50 Years—And How I May Have Cracked It

A crystallography analysis suggests UVB-76 may be using hidden timing patterns to encode information in plain sight

open.substack.com

Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · May 26

Microporous minerals have served us well for centuries.

open.substack.com/pub/aaroncel...

Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · May 24

Finally, a free comprehensive Raman analysis app #CalaritySpectra

Free download on GitHub github.com/aaroncelesti...

Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · May 10

Up until 2001, only three painite crystals were known to exist. Since then, additional discoveries have produced many more specimens, but facetable material remains very rare.

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Reposted by Pocketful of χtals

Liz Neeley @lizneeley.bsky.social · Apr 24

URGENT ACTION FOR NSF GRANTEES.

For current & recent (since 2020) awards, archive your award history this afternoon/tonight. Screenshot/download/print your work in research.gov & alert your partners.

We have credible threats to integrity of awards tracking systems (via @jeremymberg.bsky.social)

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Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Apr 24

@latimes.com story just published today and some of my work was included :)

www.latimes.com/lifestyle/st...

Polluted soil is all over L.A. Here's how to fix it, even if your home didn't burn

The Eaton and Palisades fires likely made polluted soils worse, but soil experts say bioremediation may be an alternative to scraping, especially for gardeners.

www.latimes.com

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Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Apr 17

lol. It looks delicious! But it’s a garnet!

Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Apr 17

All good guesses. It’s a cats eye garnet!

Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Apr 17

Found this abandoned gem in the collection today without a catalog number or a label.

What is it?

After some experiments, we were surprised to find out that …

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Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Apr 14

The MBUSD Green Committee is thrilled to host this panel moderated by MBMS Science Teacher Niel Leonard. Come learn about green job opportunities and hear from experts in Environmental Law, Finance, Science, Business, Healthcare, Engineering, and Policy. This event is free, open to the public!

Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Apr 5

Just saw this great cartoon! I happened to be at a geobiology conference and sat next to the author, Dr. Karen Loyd!

youtu.be/p5DaU1xr6G8?...

Unearthed: The Mysterious Microbes in the Earth's Crust Could Help Us With The Climate Crisis

YouTube video by Scientific American

youtu.be

Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Apr 4

Are you an April baby? Well, if you are, here is a famous diamond for you… the Jonker I. Exhibited @nhmla in 2023, it was the first time since the late 1930’s than it had been seen by the public. Here is a bit of back story.

nhm.org/stories/jonk...

Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Apr 1

Well, I finally found my name on a bathroom stall wall. But we did have a good time during my talk 😂

#mines #coloradoschoolofMines

Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Mar 28

Just finished my last Mineralogical Society of America distinguished lecture tour. I will be making podcast episodes of these in the new future.

Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Mar 26

Lol

Reposted by Pocketful of χtals

Environmental Coffeehouse~ Sandy @envirocoffeehouse.bsky.social · Mar 24

Who remembers? 😜

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Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Mar 9

Kind of an incredible intact aquamarine pocket for all you March babies.

It’s from Pakistan.

Will be on display at the Natural History Museum of L.A. summer 2025.

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Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Feb 27

It’s always the second reviewer.

Pocketful of χtals @nhmlagems.bsky.social · Feb 26

Cool fluorite cave!

#fluorescentminerals #fluoresence #fluoite

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