Abstract
Combining improved diffraction methods, modeling approaches and advanced computations allows for a detailed understanding of atomic thermal motions in crystals. Thus, the Topical Review by Hoser & Madsen [(2025). IUCrJ 12, 421-434] covers the Debye-Waller factor, the importance of anisotropic displacement parameters, and the interplay of experiment and theory to accurately capture collective atomic vibrations in molecular crystals.