Scientists just solved a 40-year-old mystery about quasicrystals

Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new quantum-mechanical simulation method for quasicrystals, revealing them to be fundamentally stable materials. The study shows that certain quasicrystals are enthalpy-stabilized, like crystals, despite their unique atomic arrangement that lacks repeating patterns. This breakthrough enables scientists to better understand and potentially design materials with desired properties, overcoming previous limitations in simulating these complex structures.