Chemistry in Pictures: Crimson luster

These crystals of xylindein are a rare sight, according to Nojus Osinskas, a chemistry student at the University of Chicago. Under most conditions, the fungal quinone pigment forms an amorphous solid even when pure. Scientists have known about xylindein since the mid-1800s, when it was extracted from wood-eating mushrooms. Nowadays it’s under investigation as a possible dye for optical electronics. Even in cutting-edge research, though, there’s time for more aesthetic observations. “Under a strong light source, the dark crystallites of xylindein show a fabulous crimson luster,” Osinskas says.

Submitted by Nojus Osinskas

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