Restrained by a capillary, liquid crystals can form featherlike patterns.
Image credit: Joonwoo Jeong, A. G. Yodh, Tom C. Lubensky (University of Pennsylvania), and Peter J. Collings (University of Pennsylvania & Swarthmore College)
This liquid crystal confined in a capillary shows a feather-like texture. This results from the competition between the elasticity of the liquid crystal and anchoring of the liquid crystal to the surface of the capillary.