Fig. 3: Counterdiffusion crystal growth in microgravity leads to larger and more perfect crystals compared to counterdiffusion growth on Earth.

a In microgravity, a lack of convective motions leads to the maintenance of a precipitant concentration gradient from tempered diffusion of the precipitant (blue) into the protein solution (pink). b Maintenance of the concentration gradient in microgravity results in crystals of increasing size as the distance from the agarose plug (gray) increases. This gradient can be seen after return to Earth. In contrast, Earth’s gravity causes convection that disrupts the concentration gradient and sets up a continuous supply of soluble protein. c Representative images of large-volume crystal growth in microgravity.