What is the essence of a snowflake? If you take a look at this
amazing photo gallery of
snowflakes from National Geographic, you might be able to tell. The photo gallery is part of a
Feb. 2004 story about how
snowflakes form their unique shapes. One of the major questions scientists are studying is what factors, such as
temperature and wind, play in how the snow crystals form. The main scientist mentioned in this story has a
book out on the subject, which has plenty more
pretty snowflake photos taken by photographer Patricia Rasmussen to stare at.