These frosty white crystals are a reminder that even mundane lab moments, like solvent leaks, can sometimes create something beautiful.

María Barcenilla, our postdoctoral researcher in Aurelio Mateo-Alonso’s group, works on highly conjugated organic materials such as nanoribbons and nanographenes. During one experiment, some dichloromethane leaked from the bottom of a column apparatus and crystallized at the tip.

“What started as an annoying leak ended up looking surprisingly beautiful — a tiny winter scene right there on the bench,” she says 😊

This image was selected as the winner of the “Chemistry in Pictures” contest by Chemical & Engineering News.