A pearl does not begin as something precious. It begins as a problem. Inside an oyster, a tiny particle slips in and settles where it does not belong. It might be a parasite, a rough fragment, or ...

For centuries, researchers have puzzled over how oysters grow stunningly symmetrical, perfectly round pearls around irregularly shaped grains of sand or bits of debris. Now a team has shown that ...

Pearl oysters are an important aquaculture animal in Japan, as they produce the beautiful pearls that are sought after for necklaces, earrings, and rings. In the early 1990s, this aquaculture industry ...