The pursuit of better drugs through orbital space crystals

Colorado-based Sierra Space is getting acceptable to motorboat its reusable abstraction plane, Dream Chaser. | Image: Sierra Space

In The Andromeda Strain, Michael Crichton wrote astir slayer alien abstraction crystals that are (spoiler alert) yet stymied by Earth's breadth of pH values. In reality, crystals grown successful abstraction could beryllium cardinal to a caller procreation of cancer-fighting treatments that prevention lives, not endanger them.

Colorado-based startup Sierra Space is astir acceptable to motorboat its reusable abstraction plane, Dream Chaser. It's acceptable to transportation into orbit a 3-D printed module designed by engineers astatine pharma elephantine Merck. If the trial goes well, and if Dream Chaser's gentle reentry process keeps that delicate cargo safe, this could beryllium the commencement of thing large - contempt those crystals being microscopic.

A little past of abstraction crystals

Space crystals dependable similar thing an astrology guru would bent implicit their furniture to assistance them sleep, but there's existent subject here. According to the ISS National Lab, crystals grown successful abstraction are simply better: "Scientists hypothesize that these observed benefits effect from a slower, much azygous question of molecules into a crystalline lattice successful microgravity."

Research into monoclonal antibodies points towards crystallization arsenic being cardinal for processing much stable, subcutaneous …

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