The curious case of disappearing polymorphs
By 
Rachel Brazil2026-04-13T10:15:00
From crystallographers’ beards to billion-dollar lawsuits, the phenomenon of disappearing polymorphs has puzzled chemists for decades. Now researchers are finally unravelling the science behind why stable crystal forms suddenly vanish – and discovering how to bring them back
What if the crystals behind life‑saving drugs could suddenly change their structure — and vanish forever? From a legendary ‘crystallographer’s beard’ to multimillion‑dollar pharma crises, disappearing polymorphs have shaped science, industry and even courtroom battles. This story uncovers the strange chemistry behind why some crystal forms spontaneously overthrow others, and how new techniques are finally helping scientists predict — and perhaps control — these once‑mysterious transformations.