It started far beneath the southern sky,
In Brazil, where questions first took flight.
In Leoben’s halls the dream grew strong,
And in Los Alamos — it found where it belonged.
There atoms formed a pattern new,
Two shapes, two souls — yet one clear view:
One diamond-like, with perfect grace,
One hexagonal — a mirrored face.
With metal bonds and zigzag lines,
New compounds rose from heat and time.
From Nb, Si, and Ni’s bright glow,
From Ta, Co, Fe — more forms would grow.
Pressed and forged by lovely greek hands,
A family formed from many lands.
And deep within their ordered art,
A silent mind had played its part.
Yet science was not all that grew —
A life began, a love shone through.
And with that love came joy to see:
A daughter, Sophie — A legacy.
So now the ZIP phases stand and shine,
Born of our thought, of will, of time.
A story told in bond and flame —
A piece of us in every name.
Materials at Extremes 