How can carbon atoms make both graphite and diamonds? 💎 The answer lies in atomic structure, how those carbon atoms are arranged. Princeton University neuroscientist Sebastian Seung explains how this simple shift unlocks dramatic differences in material properties. It’s one of the great triumphs of 20th-century physics, discovering how atomic organization shapes the behavior of matter. But this idea goes beyond crystals. Could the same principle help us understand the most complex material of a

Diamonds and graphite are both pure forms of carbon. So why are they so different? 💎 X-ray crystallography allowed scientists to look at their atomic structure to understand their properties. Watch the full Discourse talk with Stephen Curry: youtube.com/watch?v=gBxZVF3s4cU&t=1s This year, we celebrate 200 years of these prestigious science lectures. Stay with us as we #Discover200 | Royal Institution of Great Britain