Mollusks maintain the symmetry of their pearls by adjusting the thickness of each layer of shimmering nacre. If one layer of the pearl’s nacre is thinner, the next layer is thicker and will balance ...

Pearls have fascinated humankind for centuries. Unlike gemstones mined from the earth, they are born in water, shaped by time, nature, and human care. Their elegance and rarity make them symbols of ...

Inside an oyster, a tiny particle slips in and settles where it does not belong. It might be a parasite, a rough fragment, or ...