this post was submitted on 30 Apr 2026
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Science

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TL;DW:
Due to various molecular configurations (aka polymorphs), currently known medicines when contaminated with a catalyst seed molecule/particle can become irreversibly unreproducible via chained-contaminations.

  • the contamination can cause the existing configurations to become more stable in a negative fashion where the medicine/compounds no longer work they way we expect them to.

This system of contamination and reproduction acts in similar fashion to viral infections.

Current Solutions:

  • better clean room procedures for all steps of medicine manufacturing.
  • pour more money into medicine polymorph research.
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[–] _stranger_@lemmy.world 0 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I think that's gallium corroding aluminum, but I haven't watched the video

[–] chuckleslord@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Yes, it's gallium corroding aluminum or something like it, but the video is about pharmaceuticals.

[–] _stranger_@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It's just a visual analogy. Once aluminum is infiltrated by the gallium it can't be reverted, only removed/replaced.

[–] flying_sheep@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Not only visual, it's the exact same thing: polymorphism. It's therefore an extremely relevant and fitting thumbnail, and chuckleslord is a fool for assuming otherwise without giving the video a shot.