Kenneth Libbrecht

But a flake can also mean these big puffballs that fall from the sky that are actually many, many tiny snow crystals that have gotten sort of tangled up together. And that's why the Guinness World Record for the largest snowflake really bothered Kenneth Librecht. He says it's got to refer to that kind of puffball, but... When people hear the world's biggest snowflake,

He says, like, there's no way you would get a natural snow crystal 15 inches across. Okay, so how big could that crystal get? Well, as I said, you know, he really got famous as someone who could make snow crystals in the lab. And he told me the biggest one he ever made was about an inch across. And he said that one looked pretty crappy. It was kind of falling apart under its own weight.

He says, like, there's no way you would get a natural snow crystal 15 inches across. Okay, so how big could that crystal get? Well, as I said, you know, he really got famous as someone who could make snow crystals in the lab. And he told me the biggest one he ever made was about an inch across. And he said that one looked pretty crappy. It was kind of falling apart under its own weight.

He says, like, there's no way you would get a natural snow crystal 15 inches across. Okay, so how big could that crystal get? Well, as I said, you know, he really got famous as someone who could make snow crystals in the lab. And he told me the biggest one he ever made was about an inch across. And he said that one looked pretty crappy. It was kind of falling apart under its own weight.

But he also goes out and photographs natural snow crystals, like the ones that fall, you know, during a snowstorm. He used to make special trips up to Ontario to this place where the average temperature was about five degrees Fahrenheit, which is really optimal for beautiful snow crystals to form. And that's where he was 20 years ago on December 30th, watching the snow fall.

But he also goes out and photographs natural snow crystals, like the ones that fall, you know, during a snowstorm. He used to make special trips up to Ontario to this place where the average temperature was about five degrees Fahrenheit, which is really optimal for beautiful snow crystals to form. And that's where he was 20 years ago on December 30th, watching the snow fall.

But he also goes out and photographs natural snow crystals, like the ones that fall, you know, during a snowstorm. He used to make special trips up to Ontario to this place where the average temperature was about five degrees Fahrenheit, which is really optimal for beautiful snow crystals to form. And that's where he was 20 years ago on December 30th, watching the snow fall.

They were about five times bigger than the average snow crystal. But even so, they weren't that big. I mean, he got a photo of one that was 10 millimeters across. So 10 millimeters, that's a centimeter. Or for those of you stuck with inches, it's like four tenths of an inch, a little under half an inch.

They were about five times bigger than the average snow crystal. But even so, they weren't that big. I mean, he got a photo of one that was 10 millimeters across. So 10 millimeters, that's a centimeter. Or for those of you stuck with inches, it's like four tenths of an inch, a little under half an inch.

They were about five times bigger than the average snow crystal. But even so, they weren't that big. I mean, he got a photo of one that was 10 millimeters across. So 10 millimeters, that's a centimeter. Or for those of you stuck with inches, it's like four tenths of an inch, a little under half an inch.

He says that pretty much all the people who seriously photograph snow crystals, and, like, there aren't that many of them who are willing to go out with microscopes and cameras and, you know, be out there at night in the cold, you know, watching snowflakes fall. He knows them, and no one has come forward to show him anything bigger than that one. Okay.

He says that pretty much all the people who seriously photograph snow crystals, and, like, there aren't that many of them who are willing to go out with microscopes and cameras and, you know, be out there at night in the cold, you know, watching snowflakes fall. He knows them, and no one has come forward to show him anything bigger than that one. Okay.

He says that pretty much all the people who seriously photograph snow crystals, and, like, there aren't that many of them who are willing to go out with microscopes and cameras and, you know, be out there at night in the cold, you know, watching snowflakes fall. He knows them, and no one has come forward to show him anything bigger than that one. Okay.

So about six months ago, he finally, you know, just got sick of this world record for the biggest snowflake that the Guinness World Record people have. And so he contacted them, and he told them, look— Your big snowflake record from the 19th century is potentially confusing. So why don't you make a new record for the largest individual snow crystal? And here one is. Here it is.

So about six months ago, he finally, you know, just got sick of this world record for the biggest snowflake that the Guinness World Record people have. And so he contacted them, and he told them, look— Your big snowflake record from the 19th century is potentially confusing. So why don't you make a new record for the largest individual snow crystal? And here one is. Here it is.

So about six months ago, he finally, you know, just got sick of this world record for the biggest snowflake that the Guinness World Record people have. And so he contacted them, and he told them, look— Your big snowflake record from the 19th century is potentially confusing. So why don't you make a new record for the largest individual snow crystal? And here one is. Here it is.

I took a photo of it.

I took a photo of it.

I took a photo of it.

Plus, in their records, they could sort of cross-reference this new world record for the largest snow crystal with their existing record for the largest snowflake, which would, you know, educate people about what these records actually meant. So that's what they did. They went for it. And the new listing points out that a snowflake is made of many, many individual crystals.