More images from my experiment with quick growing crystals from B-Alanine mixed with L-Glutamine.

Recently I tried a new technique for growing crystals for microphotography which involved trying to achieve a very fast evaporation rate.  I started out with a mixture of Beta-Alanine and L-Glutamine in water, then I added 4 parts of isopropol alcohol to one part of the water mixture, then I placed the slides on a hot radiator in my home.  The hope was that the addition of the alcohol would not only break the surface tension of the water, thus resulting in a thinner layer of liquid on the slide, but it would also evaporate quickly, especially with the added heat from the radiator.  Typically I would let a slide of crystal solution dry over the course of hours or days, this process led to crystal formation within 20 minutes.  I did not know what to expect, but the result was some of the most stunning crystal formations I’ve seen yet.