title: Crystal palaces--diatoms for engineers.
abstract: A survey of diatom research from the mid-19th century to modern times shows that it has always been closely linked to technological (especially: imaging) progress. Perfection of the light-microscope led to a plethora of studies which--whilst being mostly of a descriptive nature--furnished a solid basis for informative practical applications in biostratigraphy and ecology, for instance. When the electron-microscope (transmission- and scanning-) was invented, diatoms belonged to the very first objects examined and this led to attempts at a more profound structural, functional and morphogenetic interpretation of these fascinating natural Crystal Palaces.
authors.forename: Frithjof A S
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Sterrenburg
mesh_terms: D001698:Biomedical Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D003461:Crystallography / Q000379:methods*; D017377:Diatoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide