The weak interaction, the most elusive of fundamental forces, creates a tiny imbalance between left- and right-handed versions of molecules. The difference is so small that in a solution it gets lost in thermal chaos, just as the curvature of a tiny seed goes unnoticed for a time.

But during crystallization, a seed forms first — a microscopic 'grain' of many atoms. If it reaches a critical size, the asymmetry of each molecule adds up to a mighty force. Much like a barely bent seed grows into a tree with a noticeable curve, the seed dictates the shape of the entire crystal. Experiments with electric and magnetic fields recorded an amplification of billions of times, allowing scientists to measure that critical number of atoms.

In the early universe, after the Big Bang, a series of phase transitions could have repeatedly amplified the initial difference between matter and antimatter. Thus, a microscopic asymmetry in the fabric of existence turned into a grand imbalance that decided the fate of the cosmos.