BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Health
  • Culture
  • Arts
  • Travel
  • Earth
  • Audio
  • Video
  • Live
More menu
More menu
Search BBC
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Health
  • Culture
  • Arts
  • Travel
  • Earth
  • Audio
  • Video
  • Live
Close menu

The science of snowflakes

The science of snowflakes

How do snowflakes form? Why do they have six sides? Here’s some serious snowflake trivia courtesy of Prof Brian Cox.

Made by BBC Ideas in partnership with the Royal Society, external

  • The Universe in a snowflake

  • Read all about the science of snowflakes, external

  • Are all snowflakes unique?

Animation by Studio Panda and Sam Pierpoint, originally published 23 December 2023

💡 Watch more videos at BBC Ideas

  • Published
    10 July 2024
Share page
About sharing

Explore more

  • The science of snowflakes. Video, 00:04:22The science of snowflakes

    • Published
      10 July 2024
    4:22
    An illustration of a snowflake up-close
  • Up Next. Why do we waste so much food? Video, 00:05:48Why do we waste so much food?

    • Published
      10 July 2024
    Up Next
    5:48
    Image of waste food (Shutterstock)
  • Three ways to breathe your way to better health. Video, 00:04:53Three ways to breathe your way to better health

    • Published
      10 July 2024
    4:53
    Woman in a white shirt sits cross-legged with her eyes closed ( Shutterstock)
  • The man who tried to eat every animal on Earth. Video, 00:03:53The man who tried to eat every animal on Earth

    • Published
      10 July 2024
    3:53
    Illustration of a man eating with a fork
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Health
  • Culture
  • Arts
  • Travel
  • Earth
  • Audio
  • Video
  • Live
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • BBC emails for you
  • Advertise with us

Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.

More:News • Sport • Weather • Worklife • Travel • Future • Culture • World • Business • Technology • Science_and_environment • Entertainment_and_arts