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Why Microgravity Helps Crystals Grow Better
Microgravity has become a powerful tool for growing better protein crystals. Here's why it works—and what it could enable.
Size: Crystals grow larger, sometimes 1000x compared to Earth Shape: Smoother edges, fewer defects Clarity: More optically pure Resolution: Up to 0.30–0.42 Å improvement in diffraction Mosaicity: Tighter internal structure = better precision No sedimentation = fewer impurities incorporated into the growing crystal No convection = nutrients diffuse gently and evenly Microgravity = a stable diffusion-limited environment Right now, most microgravity crystal growth happens on the ISS which brings long delays, limited launches, and huge paperwork hurdles.
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