ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Macle

Macle is a very special type of crystal that grows in a particular way. Imagine you are building a tower of blocks, and you want to make it really sturdy. So, instead of just stacking the blocks on top of each other, you decide to put them together in a special way. You take one block and turn it 90 degrees, and then you glue it to the next block. Then you take another block and turn it 90 degrees in the opposite direction, and glue it to the second block. You keep doing this until you have a tower that is much stronger than if you had just stacked the blocks normally.

Macle crystals are kind of like that tower of blocks. Instead of growing in a regular, straight line like most crystals, they grow in a special way where each part of the crystal is turned 90 degrees from the previous part. This makes them much stronger and more stable than regular crystals. Scientists think this special growth pattern happens because of changes in the conditions around the crystal while it is growing. It’s like the crystal had to adapt to different challenges as it was forming, and this made it grow in a unique way.

Macle crystals are very rare, but they can be found in different types of rocks all over the world. People have been fascinated by them for centuries, and they are often used in jewelry and other decorations because of their shimmering, complex shapes. So, the next time you see a beautiful crystal with a strange, twisting shape, you can impress your friends by telling them it might be a macle!