Snowflakes

[IndieSinger]

As a kid, I was always taught that no two snowflakes are identical. I believe this is based on some research work done by a photographer (in the 60s?) who took pictures of over 6,000 snowflakes, of which no two were the same.

However I read something in The Express earlier which suggested that it has been known since 1988 that in fact snowflakes can be - and are - identical.

So is it common knowledge now that they can be identical? I didn't even start primary school until 1987 so I should have been taught the truth really..! Or is it still a matter of debate?

[bernardo]

I suppose they can be theoretically the same, if the initial crystal shape in the middle just happens to be the same as one that has happened before.  The overall shape of the snowflake depends on tiny bits of crystals building up on each other, so only certain shapes will fit on what is there already.  The idea that they are all different presumably means that there are millions of different shapes that they can start from, with tiny variations.  I left secondary school in 1987 [ ;-) ], and at school they always told me that they are all different.

[bernardo]

P.S. When I was in Red Square (20 years ago next Monday), it was snowing in a way that we could see the individual six-sided things, and it was too cold for them to get soggy enough to stick together in big fluffy clumps.  I didn't exactly stop to check each one of the millions which were falling.

[bernardo]

oops - I clicked "submit" too early.  What I meant to write was:

P.S. When I was in Red Square (20 years ago next Monday), it was snowing in a way that we could see the individual six-sided things, and it was too cold for them to get soggy enough to stick together in big fluffy clumps.  I didn't exactly stop to check each one of the millions which were falling to see whether they were all different, just on the off chance that someone would ask me about it 20 years later.

[brachiopod]

IndieSinger, what do you mean "I didn't even start primary school until 1987" - I'm shocked !!

Not that it makes any difference, but I always believed you were a tad older than that !! Must be the maturity and knowledgeability in your replies.

(and the fact that your replies aren't punctuated by the "NE1 in da Arnsa Bank out their, innit M8, LOL" style of posting)

[IndieSinger]

Why thank-you, brachiopod, that's a huge compliment!

And thank-you for your answers, bernardo!

[Quizmonster]

Click http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_392.html for an interesting item on the topic, Indie.

[anthomson]

If something is possible by the laws of nature, then it may happen twice. It may not be statistically probable but will it not be impossible.

[morg_monster]

i agree with bernardo - i was thinking about this while on holiday in cold canada over christmas.  I think the theory is that all snowflakes are unique - but really, of the unimaginable numbers that have fallen, chances are there are some identical.  I mean there are only so many ways they can arrange themselves - even on a molecular level, there must be some the same just because of the huge numbers of snowflakes that have ever fallen! trillions of trillions...