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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 01/10/2026

On the face of it, the two #MinCup26 finalists seem kinda samey at the atom-level. But #Cuprite has interpenetrating networks of atoms and is magnetic - it deserves you vote and the 2026 crown over stoic #Quartz

Image representing the crystal structure of Cuprite - here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, and blue spheres represent copper atoms. The structure has been expanded over a,b and c axes. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #7351 in the American mineral database

Image representing the crystal structure of quartz- here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, and blue spheres/polygons represent silicon atoms. The structure has been expanded over b axis to show off quite how really basic it is. Yes it is piezoelectric, but don't let that sway you. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #789 in the American mineralogist database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 30/09/2026

So it will be cubic v hexagonal for the #MinCup26 final, but what hexagonal mineral will it be? Is #graphite too flaky to stay the course? Is #quartz going to nick it in time? (see what I did there?) Tough call, but I think #Graphite gets my vote today (as I'm off out sketching!)

Image representing the crystal structure of graphite with brown spheres representing carbon atoms. The structure is made up of layers of carbon atoms where the carbon atoms make hexagon rings. The structure is drawn in VESTA from entry #49 in the American mineralogist database.

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 29/09/2026

Semi final #MinCup26 match up between #Cuprite and #Halite - I'm now fully behind the magnetic #Cuprite - and have dug out that neutron diffraction discovered it has nearly ZERO thermal expansion from 200-300 K link.springer.com/article/10.1... WEIRD!

Image representing the crystal structure of halite. Yellow spheres represent sodium atoms, green spheres represent chlorine atoms. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #641 in the American mineralogist database.

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 28/09/2026

Have shifted timezones so a little out of sorts - but looks like a tight one in the last #MinCup26 Quarterfinal. #Pyromorphite vividness comes from its phosphorus atoms, I love how they tuck into the crystal structure. That gets my vote today over boring #Graphite.

Image representing the crystal structure of pyromorphite - here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, grey spheres/polygons represent lead atoms, purple spheres/polygons represent phosphorus atoms and green spheres represent calcium atoms. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #5226 in the American mineralogist database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 27/09/2026

Hoping for a late surge for #Julienite in today's #MinCup26 quarter final. Hard to be up against a tasty opponent like #Halite - but it's structure is just so interesting! Look at those jewel-like blocks of death! (Not a chemist, but sulfur+nitrogen+carbon attached to a metal can't be healthy)

Image representing the crystal structure of julienite - here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, dark yellow spheres/polygons represent sodium atoms, dark blue spheres/polygons represent colbalt atoms, yellow spheres represent sulfur atoms, brown spheres represent carbon atoms and light blue spheres represent nitrogen atoms. The structure is viewed down its c axis and shows that there are sodium/water(oxgyen) units surrounded by colbalt complexes with nitrogen, carbon and sulfur attached. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #9760 in the American mineralogist database.

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 26/09/2026

As some of us in Aus settle in for the Grand Final, as a Hawthorn fan I'm more focused on the Quarter Final of #MinCup26. From a crystal structure view battle of octahedra coordination within #Skutterudite vs tetrahedral coordination within #Quartz. Tough call today, but #Quartz gets the call.

Image of the crystal structure of Skutterudite viewed along its c axis. Cobalt, Iron and Nickle positions are represented by blue spheres/polygons (they all sit in the same position and occupy that at some time or another), Arsenic by green spheres. Drawn from entry #9417 in the American mineral database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 25/09/2026

So we enter the Quarter Finals of #MinCup26 - and first up is semi-boring structure #Sphalerite vs boring structure #Cuprite. Maybe it's just because it's my last day before leave, but can't seem to care about either of them... I guess as a neutron scatterer I'll have to go for magnetic #Cuprite

Image of the crystal structure of Sphalerite - here yellow sphere represent sulfur atoms and grey spheres/polygons represent zinc. The structure is viewed off the principle axes so that the repeats can be seen and is drawn in VESTA from #110 in the American mineralogist database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 24/09/2026

We're up to match 8 of round 2 #MinCup26 - and it's #Gadolinite-(Y) taking on the very useful #Graphite. Easy pick for me is the lovely mosaic-like structure of #Gadolinite-(Y) (and variety of elements!). VOTE here www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...

Image representing the crystal structure of Gadolinite-(Y). Red spheres represent oxygen atoms, blue spheres/polygons silicon atoms, grey spheres/polygons represent yittrium atoms and brown spheres/polygons represent iron atoms. There are also a number of other exotic elements that substitue into the yittrum postions (Neodynium, gadolium, dyprosium, europium and samearium). The structure is viewed down its c-axis, and is drawn in VESTA from entry #960 in the American mineralogist database.

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 23/09/2026

No contest for #crystallography for today's #MinCup26 battle - we have 'I don't know my crystal structure' #Chrysocolla vs 'First crystal structure EVER determined' of #Halite. So though it is a boring structure - #Halite gets my vote today

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 22/09/2026

I hope that I'm not the harbinger of doom for #Pyromorphite, but it really does deserve to win today's #MinCup26 round because it does know where it's atoms are at (no crystal structure set for #Cylindrite)

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 21/09/2026

AUSTRALIA and beyond - We need to assemble again for #Putnisite! This amazing structure needs your support in today's #MinCup26 battle. For shear density and novelty in its strange/wonderful crystal structure it should get your vote over #Julienite

Image representing the crystal structure of putnisite - here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, light blue spheres/polygons represent calcium atoms, dark blue spheres/polygons represent silicon atoms, brown spheres/polygons represent carbon atoms, green spheres/polygons represent strontium atoms. There is also some chromium hiding in the structure that is in part represented by a yellow triangle. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #20044 in the American mineralogist database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 20/09/2026

Bit late to today's #MinCup26 party - but no contest for my vote. #Stichtite has layers (like an onion, like an ogre) and is full of interesting structural points. #Quartz is just... well Quartz, nothing doing here.

Image representing the crystal structure of stichtite - here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, orange spheres/polygons represent magnesium atoms , light blue spheres/white represent carbon atoms (that make up CO3 carbonate groups) and pink spheres represent hydrogen atoms. The representation is shown along the structures b axis is drawn in VESTA from entry #18330 in the American mineralogist database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 19/09/2026

I'm still salty that #Cupirte beat #Orpiment in the first round of #MinCup26 - so today's vote is for #Andalusite out of spite. Plus it has got a more interesting crystal structure, so there's that too.

Image representing the crystal structure of andalusite- here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, light blue spheres/polygons represent aluminium atoms and dark blue spheres/polygons represent silicon atoms. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #728 in the American mineralogist database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 18/09/2026

#Vesuvianite is my second fave in the #MinCup26 draw, so no contest today. So varied, so many atoms, such WOW. #Skutterudite is pedestrian in comparison.

Image representing the crystal structure of Vesuvianite - here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, light blue spheres represent calcium atoms and blue spheres represent silicon. there is also some copper, aliuminum, manganese, iron, magnesium and zinc hiding out in the structure (but that's harder to see in this representation). The structure is viewed down it's c axis and drawn in VESTA from #1044 in the American mineral database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 17/09/2026

So into round 2 of #MinCup26 and I'm going to keep with my 'what's the more interesting crystal structure' criteria. I have always had a thing for 3-fold symmetry so am a sucker for the trigonal carbonate groups - #Azurite gets my vote over #Sphalerite today.

An image of the crystal structure of Azurite - red sphere represent oxygen atoms, brown spheres carbon atoms, blue spheres/polygons represent copper atoms and pink atoms represent hydrogen atoms. The representation is drawn in VESTA from #8598 in the American mineralogist database.

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 16/09/2026

Last match of round 1 #MinCup26 - and to be honest both the structures of #Cassiterite and #Graphite are a bit, well meh. Cassiterite gets my vote for the fact is has tin in it, which seems a little more exotic that just carbon.

Image representing the crystal structure of cassiterite with red spheres representing oxygen atoms and purple spheres/polygons representing tin atoms. The structure is drawn in VESTA from entry #9162 in the American mineralogist database.

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 14/09/2026

Both of todays #MinCup26 minerals' structures do plot out very nicely - #Gadolinite-(Y) has lots of interesting elements sneaking into the structure, but I have to say that the good old amphibole (double chain silicate) structure (with nice variation) of #Riebeckite turned my head today.

Image representing the crystal structure of Riebekite, a version known as flouro-Riebeckite. Red spheres represent oxygen atoms, blue spheres/polygons silicon atoms, yellow spheres/polygons represent sodium atoms, green spheres/polygons represent litium atoms and brown spheres/polygons represent iron atoms. There are also a number of other elements that substitute into the sodium (potassium and calcium) and lithium positions (manganese). The structure is viewed down its c-axis, and is drawn in VESTA from entry #5155 in the American mineralogist database.

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 13/09/2026

I was nearly swayed by #arsenopyrite in today's #MinCup26 match, I do like the wavey AsS arms sticking out of the iron units. But for a crystallographer #halite is the ultimate classic, literally the first crystal structure ever determined (by the Braggs) so that gets my vote today

Image representing the crystal structure of arsenopyrite. Yellow spheres represent sulfur atoms, green spheres represent arsenic and brown spheres/polygons represent iron atoms. The structure is viewed down its a-axis, and shows off that the AsS attached to the iron units make a zig-zag through the structure. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #112 in the American mineralogist database.

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 12/09/2026

No contest today in #MinCup26 in my mind - #Cylindrite is one of the minerals that sneaked into definition with no crystal structure defined! So #Pyrrhotite all the way - plus there's there awesome thing that a small nudge in the iron positions is what gives it its magnetic properties.

Image representing the crystal structure of Pyrrhotite, here I've plotted out the monoclinic version. Yellow spheres represent sulfur atoms and brown spheres represent iron atoms. The structure is viewed down its b-axis, and shows off that the atoms are slightly displaced from high-symmetry sites, this makes for a larger repeating unit and ultimately give the material its weakly magnetic properties. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #288 in the American mineralogist database.

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 11/09/2026

At the risk of enraging @rami.spaceaustralia.com... #Calcite is tres boring structurally - it has layers yeah, but what else? LOOK AT #Julienite, those cheeky cobalt units with nitrogen, carbon and sulfur attached (what chemistry is that??). #Julienite gets my vote in today's #MinCup26

Image representing the crystal structure of calcite - here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, light blue spheres/polygons represent calcium atoms and brown spheres represent carbon atoms. The structure is viewed down close to its a-axis, and is made up of calcium atoms that attached to carbonate (CO3) groups that form layers through the structure. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #98 in the American mineralogist database.

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 10/09/2026

Not quite sure how #pyromorphite will fare against the (literal) crystal juggernaut that is #gypsum - but I really liked the (VESTA default) halloween-esque colour scheme to it's elements to day so the small green crystal machine gets my vote in today's #MinCup26

$Image representing the crystal structure of pyromorphite - here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, blue spheres/polygons represent calcium atoms, yellow spheres/polygons represent sulfur atoms and white spheres represent deuterium atoms (which have been substituted for hydrogen as this structure is from a neutron diffraction study). The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #1807 in the American mineralogist database$

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 09/09/2026

Think 3500 km may be an underestimate

A screenshot of text that reads:
‘Polar bears do not live in the Southern Hemisphere, meaning you will not find any near Australia or in Antarctica.
To reach actual polar bear territory in the Arctic Circle, the straight-line distance is roughly 13,000 to 15,000 kilometers (8,000 to 9,300 miles) depending on where you start and finish:
• To the North Pole: The direct distance from Sydney to the North Pole is 13,773
kilometers (8,558 miles).’

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 09/09/2026

Please vote #Putnisite - the prettiness of its macro-scale is one thing, but look at this amazingness on the atomic-scale? Is a pretty unique framework mineral, there could be more variations like it we haven't found yet!

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 09/09/2026

Please vote #Putnisite - it's a lovely (rare) mineral with a pretty unique crystal structure!

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 09/09/2026

(look, I admit that Hafnon is also pretty cool - love strange elements in crystal structures - but it can't really compete with #Putnisite today)

Image presenting the crystal structure of hafnon - here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, light green spheres/polygons represent hafnium atoms and dark blue spheres/polygons represent silicon atoms. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #871 in the American mineralogist database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 09/09/2026

It is time, Australia, to vote for #Putnisite in today's #MinCup26. Why, well it's a very Aussie mineral, discovered on the remote Polar Bear peninsular of WA www.mindat.org/loc-240988.h..., found by CSIRO scientists and named after Australian mineralogists. The structure is also beautiful!

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 08/09/2026

What's up with so many similar minerals being put up against each other in #MinCup26? Today we have #Stichtite taking on #Talc - both layered with magnesium units making up one of the layers. Stichtite a little confused where it's carbonate should go - so today's vote is for ordered talc!

Image representing the (idealised) crystal structure of talc - here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, orange spheres/polygons represent magnesium atoms and blue spheres/polygons represent silicon atoms. The representation is shown along the structures b axis is drawn in VESTA from entry #10541 in the American mineralogist database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 07/09/2026

Tough call for the #MinCup26 today - I do like that in #Andalusite the Al and Si atoms have their own places and stick to them (they often try to hog the same spot!), but I think that #Monazite-(Ce) just pips with its 9-coordinated Cerium atoms (talk about spreading the bonding love!).

Image representing the crystal structure of monazite-(Ce)- here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, lime-green spheres/polygons represent cerium atoms and purple spheres/polygons represent phosphorus atoms. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #1698 in the American mineralogist database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 06/09/2026

No contest here in today's #MinCup26 match - from a structure point of view #Quartz is as basic as it gets. Love #Asagiite, with cheeky Nickel atoms in the corners and a lovely silicate sheet guarded by sulphate. Fantastic structure - vote #Asagiite

Image representing the crystal structure of Asagiite - here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, blue spheres/polygons represent silicon atoms, grey spheres/polygons represent Nickel atoms, yellow spheres/polygons represent sulfur. There are also iron, copper, colbalt and zinc atoms hiding out in the structure (mainly substituting in the nickel atom position). The structure is viewed along its a axis and has been expanded over the b axis to show off the lovely layers that make up the structure - sheets of silicate with a number of other units holding it to account. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #21496 in the American mineralogist database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 06/09/2026

Similar chemistry, but very different crystal structure - hence different mineral. Realgar has units of As4S4 that don't make up sheets (suspect the sheets is how orpiment can make fluffy (spiny) crystal forms).

Image representing the crystal structure of realgar - here yellow spheres represent sulfur atoms, and green spheres represent arsenic atoms. The structure has been expanded in the c axes to show off the As4S4 units that make up the structure. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #3933 in the American mineralogist database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 05/09/2026

Breaking my 'no skeets on the weekend' rule, but hey it's #MinCup26. Expanded both structures today beyond their unit cell to show a) how BORING #Cuprite is and b) amazing sheets of poison-crazyness that #Orpiment is. Sheets of death get my vote today.

Image representing the crystal structure of Cuprite - here yred spheres represent oxygen atoms, and blue spheres represent copper atoms. The structure has been expanded over a,b and c axes to show off quite how boring it actually is. Just copper bonding to oxygen, not even making up a polygon. Literally without the magnetic properties of this mineral has it would be a right snooze-fest. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #7351 in the American mineral database

Image representing the crystal structure of Orpiment - here yellow spheres represent sulfur atoms, and green spheres represent arsenic atoms. The structure has been expanded in the a and c axes to show off the lovely (but deadly) AsS sheets that make up the structure. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #10733 in the American mineral database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 04/09/2026

Love the structures for today's #MinCup26 - they are both pretty wild, look at all that weird coordination in #Bournonite - with bonus antinomy! (weird element!). But today #Vesuvianite gets my vote for the SHEAR CAUCHOPHONY of atoms!

Image representing the crystal structure of Bournonite - here yellow sphere represent sulfur atoms, copper-coloured spheres represent antimony atoms, blue spheres represent silicon and black spheres represent lead atoms. The structure is viewed off the principle axes so that the repeats can be seen and is drawn in VESTA from #10713 in the American mineral database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 03/09/2026

Bit more variety in today's #MinCup26 battle - and opposite ends of the symmetry scale with triclinic #Anorthie taking on cubic #Sphalerite. You know I love a hot mess of a mineral so today's vote goes to #anorthie and its strange parameters.

Image of the crystal structure of Anorthite - here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, light blue spheres/polygons represent calcium atoms and blue spheres/polygons represent silicon and aluminium atoms. The structure is viewed down the a axis and is drawn in VESTA from #370 in the American mineral database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 02/09/2026

Love the structures of both these combatants in today's #MinCup26 draw. Both include a spicy edge of arsenic in their elements (also both have Co, Fe and Ni atoms vying for the same positions!) - but for me #Erythrite lovely water network wins my vote over the simpler #Skutterudite structure today

Image of the crystal structure of Erythrite viewed along its c axis, that shows off a network of water atoms that connect through the structure. Cobalt, Iron and Nickle positions are represented by blue spheres/polygons, Arsenic by green spheres/polygons, with red spheres representing oxygen and pink spheres representing hydrogen atom positions. Drawn from entry #6617 in the American mineral database

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 01/09/2026

First up for #MinCup2026 is the battle of the carbonates - #Azurite verses #Smithsonite. Interesting that Azurite has a slightly simpler structure, especially given that it has some water in the structure too - so I think that's elegant and hence #Azurite gets my vote today.

An image of the crystal structure of Smithsonite - red sphere represent oxygen atoms, brown spheres carbon atoms and grey spheres/polygons represent zinc atoms

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 16/08/2026

The #BraggYourPattern project was done very proud at #IUCr2026 by @rosieyoung.bsky.social’s presentation. I got a bit emotional to see all that this group has done over 5 years now! (Picture taken with permission from the speaker)

Image of a women dressed in black with a conference lanyard presenting to an audience on the Bragg Your Pattern project

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 14/08/2026

Our #IUCr2026 craft night is in full swing! Lovely evening out at a local yarn shop! Science (fibre) knitworking at it’s best #BraggYourPattern

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 13/08/2026

Yesterday’s ’Engaging all in Crystallography’ micro symposium at #IUCr2026 was great! Speakers from USA, Germany, Brazil, Italy and Japan - very global perspective. Great panel session to wrap it up too!

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 10/08/2026

Took some time to examine the brick mosaic murals on plat 14 at Sydney central. They are rather illusive, and hard to get more than glimpses of the colours #BraggYourPattern

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 10/08/2026

Setting out to Calgary for #IUCr2026, passing through the most Australian-named station en route

Image of an orange train station sign that reads ‘Emu Plains’

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 02/08/2026

Am as proud a sport-supporting Aussie as any, but it does strike me as a tad rude to welch on holding a comp, then to turn up and win most things

Image of the commonwealth games medal tally after 9 days, Australia is far in the top of the table with 158 medals overall

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 25/07/2026

I didn’t choose the Chux life, the Chux life chose me.

Image of a Chux scourer packet which is ripped open

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 30/06/2026

Work has been crazy, but I got time out to see my fave wombat, so there’s that

Image of a wombat, which is curled up asleep next to a fenced tree.

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 18/06/2026

Said Neutron in a lab coat- so good! @illneutrons.bsky.social was this commissioned from an artist?

A cartoon depicting a neutron (a subatomic particle) in a lab coat looking down a microscope. The neutron is a deep shade of blue and the lab coat is white. It has stick arms that it is using to examine the material

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 13/06/2026

Saturday night done right watching the proper World Cup 😂 GO SCOTLAND #T20WorldCup

Image of a tv with the flags of Scotland and Ireland - in the coffee table in the foreground is a bottle of bubbles and some prawns

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 10/06/2026

Nice publication out that used #NeutronScattering in Australia and the US - showing that a promising photoanode can be tuned with chemical and mechanical control. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Graphical abstract image that has an image of a pressure cell surrounded by two crystal structure figures. It is to show that these can be transformed and recovered in the cell, and the associated paper shows that different elements need different pressures to transform

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 27/05/2026

I just got some sad news from Scotland, Millie the bedlington passed peacefully yesterday (my Sister and Brother- in Law’s dog) - she was a lovely wee bit of floof who rocked a selfie.

Image of a woman holding a coffee cup and a fluffy wee dog. They are both grinning

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