Field of green stems that have been decorated with red thickened corals (the SEM is false-colored, but represents the actual color of the structure).

Field of green stems that have been decorated with red thickened corals (the SEM is false-colored, but represents the actual color of the structure).

To make these flowers, the scientists started by growing a coral structure (red). They then encouraged the green stems to form inside the spaces of the coral structure. While the stems are growing, they opened them with a carbon dioxide pulse (purple), (false coloured SEM image).

By pinning the liquid on top of the previously formed green structures, the newly formed blue leaves can only develop in the plane of the underlying surface (false coloured SEM image).

This complex micro bouquet was formed by first encouraging the growth of the green stems inside the purple vases, after which the stems were opened during the growth to form the blue part (false coloured SEM image).

To make these flowers, the scientists started by growing a coral structure (red). They then encouraged the green stems to form inside the spaces of the coral structure. While the stems are growing, they opened them with a carbon dioxide pulse (purple), (false coloured SEM image).

Lab conditions can be tweaked to cause a new structure to form on an already existing complex architectures. Here a red coral was added on top of a green spiral (the SEM is false-coloured, but represents the actual color of the structure).

Delicate flower structures have been formed in a Harvard laboratory at the molecular scale. Applying the same growth conditions in subsequent growth steps results in the formation of a field of structures that have the same structure at the top and bottom (false colored SEM image).