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A pinch of citric added to a water solution of the amino acid b-alanine yielded an exquisite slide of microscapes, including this one, once the substances recrystallized. A polarizing filter helped make crystal features pop. My mother uses citric acid to make some of the world's finest stuffed cabbage. Some athletes use b-alanine as a supplement to improve performance and/or help build muscle mass.

Throughout his career as a science journalist and writer, Ivan Amato has been adding to his list channels of communication, which include articles, books, poetry, videos, podcasts, live science cafes, and now the one features on this online storefront. It is a kind of microscope art called crystal photomicrography. As Amato sees it, the greatest gift science offers us all is the opportunity to experience awe as science reveals how nature works.