Short Wave The Dubious World's Largest Snowflake Record
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Jan 3, 2025 
Nell Greenfieldboyce, an NPR reporter, dives into the fascinating world of snowflakes and the dubious record of the largest one ever recorded. She discusses the 15-inch snowflake claimed from 1887 and the skepticism surrounding it. A physicist investigates the science behind snowflake formation, exploring what truly defines a snowflake. With personal anecdotes, they unravel the uniqueness of giant snowflakes and celebrate the wonder and joy they bring during winter.
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Giant Snowflake?
- The Guinness World Record for largest snowflake is 15 inches in diameter, 8 inches thick.
- It reportedly fell in Montana in 1887, but its validity is questioned.
Snowflake Ambiguity
- "Snowflake" can mean a single ice crystal or many tangled crystals.
- The Guinness record confuses these, blurring the lines between a large crystal and a clump.
Libbrecht's Snow Crystals
- Kenneth Libbrecht grew a one-inch snow crystal in the lab, but it was unstable.
- The largest natural snow crystal he photographed was about 0.4 inches across.