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Perfect Crystals Grown by Cancelling Out Gravity on Earth

Posted by Zonk on from the hippies-across-the-globe-cheer dept.

willatnewscientist writes "Researchers in the Netherlands and Japan have found a way to grow perfect crystals in 'zero gravity' here on Earth. By exploiting the way a powerful magnet influences diamagnetic materials they have been able to grow protein crystals without the defects normally introduced as a result of gravity (The same trick has been used to levitate a frog before). Normally, such crystals are grown in space, such as aboard the International Space Station."

9 of 83 comments (clear)

  1. Yes, but... by ChePibe · · Score: 4, Funny

    Did they grow the crystals INSIDE of a levitating frog?

    Now that would be cool.

    Mmmm... frog crystals...

    1. Re:Yes, but... by ChePibe · · Score: 5, Funny

      True. But then the frog could boastfully say, "I even piss perfection."

    2. Re:Yes, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Mmmm... frog crystals...

      "We secretly replaced these French diners' frog legs with Folger's Crystals. Let's see if they notice the difference...!"

    3. Re:Yes, but... by xENoLocO · · Score: 3, Funny

      A talking levitating perfect crystal growing frog? ... the plot thickens!

      --
      "The need to build the internet comes from something inside us, something programmed... something we can't resist."
    4. Re:Yes, but... by fbartho · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, it crystallizes!

      --
      Gravity Sucks
  2. EBAY listing-- by tazsl · · Score: 3, Funny

    1 levitating crystaline frog pendant--$2,300,000.21 Amaze your friends! Great school project! Requires 1 nuclear reactor(not included) Coming next week--antiproton earrings--

    --
    for every complex problem , there is a solution that is simple , neat , and wrong.
  3. Re:Wait.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    If the crystal growing frog eats the bugs, is that a feature?

  4. Re:So all that's left is Tang? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    You forgot adult diapers...


    uh-oh, you can tell from over there?

  5. Think of the spin-off technologies by jollyreaper · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just imagine when they adapt this same technique to work with breasts!

    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne