How can they say that no two snowflakes are identical?

Answer 1

There is no way imaginable that this could be proven. It is an assumption based on our current knowledge of how snowflakes are formed, and our understanding of the concepts of probability.

However, recent analyses indicate that two snowflakes could be identical, especially the very tiny flakes that cover high mountains. (Ref: New Scientist magazine).

There is a nucleus composed of a bit of windborne debris in each snowflake - an ash, smoke or dust particle. For every bit of this to be identical to the quantum level has probably never happened.

An average snowflake will contain around 1019 water molecules. Although any two molecules are essentially identical (theoretically these might be distinguishable only by temperature), there is enormous variety introduced by the patterns created as ice crystals form. Consider how much of the earth 1019 snowflakes would cover. If the average snowflake volume was only a cubic millimeter, there would still be enough snow to cover every square inch of the State of Idaho (83,600 square miles) to a depth of 1.5 inches. Imagine trying to find the two you thought might be identical in all that snow.

In 1988 Nancy Knight, documenting snowflakes for NCAR, found two of the "hollow tube" form that appeared nearly identical, though it is almost certain these differed at the atomic level.

Answer 2

There are too many ways of making a complex snowflake for any two to be the same. Snow crystals have hundreds of separate features, only visible at a microscopic level.

Answer 3

yes it is