Microscopic single-celled algae that have cell walls made of silica, creating beautiful and intricate glass-like structures.
From Greek dia- 'through' + temnein 'to cut,' referring to how their cell wall appears to have a seam running through the middle, like it's been cut. The term became standard in the 1800s.
Diatoms have been called 'nature's nanofactory'—they build perfect geometric silica structures without any blueprint, and scientists are now copying their techniques to create stronger, lighter materials.
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