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Pearls have long been coveted for their lustrous beauty and the rarity of a perfectly spherical pearl has only added to their appeal. It is the only jewel created within a live creature, the pearl oyster. However, not every oyster produces a pearl, certainly not a perfect one. In Nova: The Perfect Pearl, Nova looks at the pearl industry, which came about when a Japanese scientist found a way to artificially induce oysters to make pearls. These "cultured" pearls found a ready market, and the pearl farms prospered. Problems have arisen and farmers must find methods to work around pollution and overcrowded conditions.