Cato speculate?

Easy access to zero gravity and hard vacuum will bring to light a huge
number of serendipitous discoveries. I think a perfect example is the
unexpected properties of a water film in zero-g - see
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2003/25feb_nosoap.htm?list71523
At least a handful of these serendipitous discoveries will be
significant enough to revolutionize industrial processes, scientific
research tools, and will spawn new space-based businesses. But, in the
nature of serendipity, and discovery in general, there's no way to tell
right now what these will be. The important thing is that we have people
in space with the free time and inclination to follow their curiosity.