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.

Daytime or nighttime? Midnight in big sky country.

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...

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... 🧪

Great story in Eos that just came out :)

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

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

Microporous minerals have served us well for centuries. open.substack.com/pub/aaroncel...

Finally, a free comprehensive Raman analysis app #CalaritySpectra Free download on GitHub github.com/aaroncelesti...

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.

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)

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

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 …

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!

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?...

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...

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

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

Who remembers? 😜

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.

Cool fluorite cave! #fluorescentminerals #fluoresence #fluoite

Installed. “Unusual Green Minerals” at the Tucson Gem and Mineral show. With a whole suite if ugrandite garnets.

#microscopyMonday I’m getting ready for the Tucson show, and I’m bringing a wide range of specimens—thumbnails to dinosaurs bones. Get out the companion site I made with 3D models, photos, stories and more. The show them is green, so my case has loads of rare green minerals.

Standing at the shore of Lake Karachay for just one hour in 1990 would deliver enough radiation to kill you, yet for years Soviet workers dumped radioactive waste directly into its waters. The lake that earned the title of Earth's most contaminated place is now hidden.

Never gets old, an outrageous gem carpet ✨✨ Alfie Norville Museum in Tucson AZ

This is why I like Substack so much. Short form posts, long form blogs, and hots my podcast all on one easy to use platform.

The prospering backyards final report is out! It’s a little light on the science by design, but I have a manuscript in prep that will fill in all the gaps. static1.squarespace.com/static/614a8...

Hi Internet, do any of you know of materials science jobs outside the U.S.? Asking for a friend. See their CV at: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/69d4...

Are kidney stones crystal clusters? L.A. Countyology host David Sommers and Dr. Aaron Celestian take a closer look at the surprising similarities of mineral growth. Watch the full episode on @CountyOfLA's YouTube Channel.

I feel heard. I am currently reading this book, and it’s so good! #mineralevolution #mineralecology #astrobioloy

“One scientist texted his landlord to say February rent would be late. Another wasn’t able to pay her credit card bill. Yet another wondered how much longer he could afford his mortgage.” @ericboodman.bsky.social on NSF’s payment system being down 🧪🔬🦠 www.statnews.com/2025/01/30/t...

Things that people are sending me from the #eatonfire What I’m dubbing as a fireball, these charred parts of trees were report very abundant. They would rain down and start houses on fire. They will be cataloged and included in our collection.

Preparing and analyzing fire ash samples. There are lots of steps 🥵

It’s been awhile since I posted here, but times are changing. If you are planning on a trip to LA this summer, we are going to have an amazing new exhibit lined up! Check it out on my substack page: Pockful of Xtals aaroncelestian.substack.com/p/unearthed-...

Artifical Intellegence. Getting our exhibit ready for the tucson gem show, and Apple intellence wanted to identify my mineral photos for me. cuprosklodowskite = turtle grass duffite = broccoli chervetite = duckweed

After working for years on this project, the paper is finally published in PLOS ONE. This paper details the molecular processes that the drug lokelma works to selectively absorb potassium. Press release with link to paper shorturl.at/AHV46

New podcast is up and running. There is one episode now, with 14 more in queue. podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aa-...

Getting ready for Tucson

Great article in Town and Country magazine about the 100ct gem exhibit at NHMLA! www.townandcountrymag.com/style/jewelr... 🏛️🧪✨

Museum post doc opportunity! 🧪🏛️

A recent Pew survey found that only 57% of Americans think science has a mostly positive effect on society, down considerably since 2019. www.sciencefriday.com/segments/sci...

More than just beauty and brilliance, learn how the gems on view in "100 Carats" also tell the scientific story of our planet’s history: bit.ly/ScienceSpark...

Finally, I have a blue sky account, so why not start with some blue minerals in our collection. The 100+ ct paraiba and sapphire gems are on display during during our winter exhibit.