Magnetic resonance diffusion and relaxation characterization of water in the unfrozen vein network in polycrystalline ice and its response to microbial metabolic products

► Polycrystalline ice can be viewed as a low porosity porous media. ► Magnetic relaxation time and diffusion measurements are tools to characterize ice structure. ► Recrystallization inhibition was detected due to ice binding activity of microbial proteins.