A new kind of crystal has entered the scientific landscape, and it is challenging long-held assumptions about how solid materials behave. Developed in a laboratory by a team of researchers in South Korea and Japan, this engineered compound is capable of taking in and releasing oxygen in a repeating cycle that resembles the act of breathing. It performs this exchange through precise, reversible shifts within its atomic structure, and it does so at temperatures far lower than anything previously recorded in similar materials.

This is not a natural gemstone and it was not discovered in the Earth. It was intentionally designed at the molecular level through advanced materials engineering. Even so, the behavior it displays is unlike anything scientists have seen in a solid crystal before. When warmed, it releases oxygen into the surrounding environment. When cooled, it draws oxygen back in and returns to its original state without losing stability. The process can repeat again and again with remarkable consistency.

The development of this crystal marks a significant milestone in material science. It opens potential pathways for clean energy systems, oxygen regulating devices, and next generation technologies that require controlled oxygen flow. It also highlights how much there is still to learn about the possibilities of engineered matter and how deeply temperature, structure, and chemistry influence the behavior of solid materials.

This breakthrough has gained international attention, including coverage on Channel 12 News, where I was featured.

Enchanting Earth's Jamie Inglett and Shannon Wimberly on Channel 12

What This Crystal Is

The material is known as SrFe0.5Co0.5O2.5, often shortened to SFCO. It belongs to a family of metal oxides with structures that can adapt when atoms move in or out. Researchers created it through a controlled thin film growth technique that allowed them to place each element with remarkable precision. The result is a crystal with a highly ordered internal arrangement and specific sites that can hold or release oxygen.

The crystal’s composition is the key to its unusual behavior. Strontium creates a stable backbone. Iron and cobalt provide electron flexibility, meaning their internal charge states can shift in harmony with oxygen movement. The oxygen atoms occupy carefully arranged positions that can open and close without fracturing the entire structure. This combination of stability and adaptability is what allows SFCO to move oxygen in a predictable, reversible cycle.

How the Breathing Mechanism Works

Inside the crystal are empty positions known as oxygen vacancies. In many materials these vacancies form randomly. In SFCO they are arranged in an ordered pattern that forms pathways for oxygen to move. When temperature increases slightly, the oxygen atoms gain enough energy to exit the lattice through these pathways. When temperature decreases, the vacancies realign and the oxygen is drawn back in.

The process follows a clear sequence:

Initial State
The crystal contains oxygen in defined lattice positions and the internal metals are in their oxidized form.

Heat Exposure
Temperature increases. The oxygen atoms gain mobility and leave their positions in the structure. This release lowers the oxidation state of the cobalt ions, a change the researchers verified experimentally.

Vacancy Alignment
As oxygen exits, vacancies remain. These vacancies maintain their ordered arrangement rather than collapsing or scattering.

Cooling Phase
When the temperature falls, the vacancies attract oxygen from the environment. The oxygen returns to the lattice and the internal oxidation states shift back to their original values.

Reset
The structure returns to its starting configuration without degradation.

This reversible transformation is what the research team referred to metaphorically as the crystal “breathing.” It is a chemical and structural cycle that repeats reliably, not a biological process. The stability shown during repeated cycles is one of the most significant findings of the study.

Why This Research Matters

The ability to move oxygen at moderate temperatures while maintaining structural integrity is rare. It expands our understanding of how atoms can behave inside solids and shows that crystals are capable of far more dynamic processes than once believed. Researchers in material science view this as an important step toward advanced oxygen exchange systems that do not require extreme heat.

The study also contributes to a broader scientific effort to design materials with controllable redox behavior. Redox reactions involve the gain or loss of oxygen or electrons and are essential in many technologies. A crystal that can shift between states without collapsing can support new experimental directions in both chemistry and solid state physics.

Potential Applications Researchers Are Exploring

The research team and independent materials scientists have discussed several areas where breathing type crystals may eventually be useful. These are possibilities based on the properties observed in the study, not established uses.

Fuel Cell Technologies
Many fuel cells rely on oxygen movement to generate electricity. Materials that can exchange oxygen at lower temperatures could improve efficiency. Media outlets reporting on the study highlighted this as a potential future direction.

Thermal or Chemical Sensors
Because the crystal responds predictably to temperature changes by releasing or absorbing oxygen, researchers note that it may help inform next generation sensor designs.

Oxygen Storage and Release Materials
Materials that move oxygen cleanly are important for certain industrial processes. The stability of SFCO makes it a candidate for future investigation.

These applications remain theoretical until further research and engineering take place. The study provides the foundation, and future experiments will determine what is feasible.

The Research Behind the Breakthrough

The crystal was developed through a collaboration between Pusan National University and Hokkaido University. Lead researchers include Professor Hyoungjeen Jeen and Professor Hiromichi Ohta, both specialists in the field of oxide materials.

Their work was published in Nature Communications in 2025 under the title:

“Selective reduction in epitaxial SrFe0.5Co0.5O2.5 and its reversibility.”

The paper outlines how the team used thin film growth techniques to build the crystal layer by layer. They confirmed its structure using X ray diffraction and then measured changes during heating and cooling cycles to track oxygen movement. The reversibility of the oxygen release was verified through electron spectroscopy, which showed that cobalt ions shifted oxidation states and then returned to their original state when oxygen re entered the lattice.

This level of experimental clarity is what makes the research compelling. The breathing behavior is not inferred or guessed. It is directly observed and measured.

Public Response and Channel 12 News Coverage

After the study was released, the breathing crystal gained rapid attention across science outlets because of its unusual oxygen release and absorption cycle. While the research speaks for itself, it also reflects something broader. The public is becoming increasingly interested in how crystalline materials behave, how they store information, and how they interact with the world around them.

This growing interest is one of the reasons I was featured recently on Channel 12 News. The segment focused on my work with crystals, the purpose behind my shop, and the role that intentional craftsmanship plays in the jewelry and tools we create. The breathing crystal was mentioned briefly as an example of how scientific research continues to reveal new dimensions of what crystals are capable of at the structural level.

The story highlighted why crystal work matters to me, how I source and design pieces for my clients, and how the Sedona landscape influences the energy of the shop. It shed light on the connection people feel to natural minerals and why the crystal world continues to draw curiosity from both scientific and everyday communities.

You can watch the full segment here:
https://www.12news.com/video/news/local/newly-developed-crystal-breathes-like-a-human/75-4bd05306-68f8-4969-8596-8442d6cd6f7d

What This Means for the Study of Crystals

The breathing crystal demonstrates that even engineered solids can behave dynamically at the atomic level. It shows that crystalline materials can adjust, reset, and respond to environmental changes in ways that were once thought impossible without destroying the structure. This invites deeper research into how ordered vacancies, electron flexibility, and lattice design can be used to create new classes of responsive materials.

It also reinforces the importance of precision engineering in materials research. The crystal’s behavior is only possible because of the exact arrangement of atoms achieved through thin film growth. As fabrication techniques improve, scientists expect to uncover more materials with unusual and useful behaviors.

References

ScienceDaily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250821004248.htm

ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/this-crystal-has-a-superpower-it-can-breathe-oxygen

Technology Networks
https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/scientists-discover-a-new-crystal-that-breathes-oxygen-403590

SciTechDaily
https://scitechdaily.com/breathing-crystal-breakthrough-could-revolutionize-clean-energy

Nature Communications Journal
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62612-1

Channel 12 News Feature
https://www.12news.com/video/news/local/newly-developed-crystal-breathes-like-a-human/75-4bd05306-68f8-4969-8596-8442d6cd6f7d

Closing Reflection

The development of a crystal that can move oxygen in a stable and reversible cycle represents an important step forward in material science. It reminds us that the mineral world is far more dynamic than it appears and that even engineered crystals can behave in ways that challenge long held assumptions. As research continues, materials like SFCO will help scientists deepen their understanding of solid state chemistry and open new pathways for future studies.

For me, this discovery also highlights why I continue to work so closely with crystals in my shop. Every stone carries structure, history, and complexity that form long before it reaches someone’s hands. Whether shaped by nature over millions of years or formed through precise laboratory design, crystals show that matter itself holds remarkable beauty and potential. My work is rooted in honoring that structure and sharing pieces that carry intention, craftsmanship, and care.

If you saw the Channel 12 feature, you saw a glimpse of why I do this work and what it means to create a space where people can explore the mineral world with curiosity. Crystals continue to inspire both scientists and everyday collectors, and I am grateful to be part of that conversation.

Thank you for taking the time to explore this discovery with me.

Visit Enchanting Earth in Sedona or explore our online collection of vortex-charged crystal jewelry. Each piece is hand-selected and charged in Sedona’s energy to support your awakening and divine alignment.

Follow @enchantingearthco for daily crystal wisdom, Sedona energy insights, and spiritual teachings to accompany your journey of awakening.

Jamie Inglett

Jamie Inglett is an intuitive healer, author, founder and CEO of Enchanting Earth; a luxury gemstone jewelry and crystal shop with a storefront in Sedona, Arizona. Known for her deep knowledge of crystals and energy healing, Jamie has studied metaphysics since her awakening at a Quartz mine in 2012. Her Sedona storefront is a must-visit destination for crystal lovers, offering luxury gemstone jewelry, rare & ethically sourced crystals, and powerful healing tools; all charged in the energy of Sedona’s sacred red rock vortex. She retired from her successful banking career to pursue her mission of spreading empowerment, love, and healing through crystals. Jamie loves to teach crystal healing live on her social media channels. Further your crystal knowledge and join the enchanting community on Instagram @enchantingearthco