Why were scientists skeptical of Dan Shechtman’s quasicrystal discovery?

Scientists were initially skeptical of Dan Shechtman’s discovery of quasicrystals because his findings challenged long-standing fundamental principles of crystallography. Since the 1890s, it was widely accepted that crystals could only possess rotational symmetries that allowed for a repeating, regular structure. Shechtman’s observation of fivefold symmetry—which cannot tile a plane or fill space in a repeating, periodic way—was considered impossible by the scientific establishment.12

The resistance to his work was intense:
* Dogmatic Rejection: The types of structures possible in crystals were viewed as a closed subject, leading many to dismiss his findings as erroneous.1
* Methodological Doubt: Many crystallographers, who relied on X-rays for their research, were skeptical of results obtained via electron microscopy.1
* Professional Backlash: Shechtman faced significant professional hostility, including being asked to leave his research group, and prominent scientists like Linus Pauling publicly ridiculed the concept.1

Shechtman was eventually vindicated in 1987 when other researchers produced larger quasicrystals that could be confirmed using X-ray diffraction.1