Cave Stalactites : Growing Slowly

Many scientists study caves but few of them focus on stalactites. The stalactites are formations that appear like icicles hanging down from the roof of the cave. These stalactites are not made of ice but of calcium carbonate, but did you know that all stalactites all over the world only have two traits?

Firstly a stalactite grows one inch every 100 years. Secondly stalactites world wide all share the same thin conical shape. This second trait confused scientists because water could drip anywhere and theoretically, a stalactite can have any shape. As more studies and experiments were conducted, it was discovered that the carrot-like shape is due to the geometric law of motion that controls the growth of stalactites.