An extreme close-up on crystals. They are geometric in shape, some looking like squares while others are hexagons. Orange light shines from behind the crystals. The light shines through the crystals that face us and highlights their edges.Redwire This June 5, 2024, image shows lysozyme crystals aboard the International Space Station. Lysozyme is a protein found in bodily fluids like tears, saliva, and milk, and is used as a control compound to demonstrate well-formed crystals. Lysozyme plays a vital role in innate immunity, protecting against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The crystals were grown with Redwire’s PIL-BOX in a study of the effect of microgravity on various types of crystals production.

Image credit: Redwire

Crystals Grown in Space