Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31701: The Crystal Quest: Understanding Crystal Growth in Space

Have you ever wondered why crystals form the way they do? Gravity plays a huge role in their structure and clarity. To investigate how crystals grow without gravity’s influence, students from Valley Christian High School of Dublin launched an experiment aboard the ISS.

In microgravity, the absence of convection currents and sedimentation allows molecules to assemble more uniformly. This often results in purer, larger, and more symmetrical crystals than those formed on Earth. The students set up a controlled environment to monitor how crystals develop over time in space.

The experiment focused on observing differences in size, shape, and internal structure between space-grown and Earth-grown crystals. One surprising outcome was how much clearer and more uniform the space crystals became, reinforcing theories about how microgravity can enhance crystallization.

This research is not just academic—it has practical implications. Space-grown crystals can be used in pharmaceuticals, electronics, and materials science, where precision and purity are critical.

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