Metallic Glass: A Crystal at Heart (IMAGE) DOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Caption Scientists recently used a diamond anvil like this one to squeeze tiny samples of metallic glass. Under very high pressure, the samples switched from their amorphous, glassy state to form a single crystal -- the first time this behavior has been seen in a glass. The discovery. published in the June 17 issue of Science, could help scientists design better metallic glasses, which are widely used in power transformers, anti-theft tags and other products, and it may help explain why these materials are so tough. Credit Image courtesy Brad Plummer/SLAC. Usage Restrictions Credit where possible. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.