Combining a cobalt(II) chloride seed and an aqueous solution of sodium silicate forms these hollow precipitate structures that seem to grow like tiny plants. Their unique behavior is a result of a careful balance between osmotic pressure, buoyancy, and gravity, which this researcher worked to further understand in a paper published in ACS Omega. Chemical gardens have been used as science fair experiments and party tricks for years, with the first examples dating back to the 17th century. But tod