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Carbon-60 has been around as long as soot, but it was noticed only recently, earning the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. It's one of the family of fullerenes (after Buckminster Fuller of course), and the consequences are still unfolding.
The properties of fullerenes are unusual in every way. Shown in this crystal is a buckyball in a buckytube: this configuration has been produced physically, and is known to its friends as a "bucky peapod".
One interesting thing that the C-60 "soccer ball" form can do is to contain an atom or small molecule inside the sphere. It's well known that this points towards new types of batteries, lubricants and superconductors, but it also has more exotic consequences. For instance, geologists are now looking for fossil isotope concentrations preserved inside ancient buckyballs, which could tell us more about meteorite impacts in earlier epochs.
Too big? Keychains are here.
Buckyball, 80x50x50mm glass – $27
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Without illumination the crystal works best on a dark background. It comes with clear rubber feet to avoid scratching your desk or mantel. On the left, this light base is a great way to light up your molecule. It's made of black Formica and has white LEDs that are cool, long-lasting and energy-efficient. Bright enough for the office by day, or a brilliant nightlight.
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