Physicists Build World's Smallest Snowman
The holiday season is in full swing and what better way to mark the month than with the world's smallest snowman?
The National Physical Laboratory in the United Kingdom are celebrating the season with the world's smallest snowman. NPL built the tiny snowman by using two tin beads to calibrate electron microscope astigmatism. Measuring 10 µm across, 1/5th the width of a human hair, Mr. Snowman's eyes and smile were milled using a focused ion beam, and the nose, which is under 1 µm wide (or 0.001 mm), is ion beam deposited platinum.
NPL says they used a nanomanipulation system to assemble the parts 'by hand' and platinum deposition to weld all elements together. Mr Snowman is mounted on a silicon cantilever from an atomic force microscope whose sharp tip 'feels' surfaces creating topographic surveys at almost atomic scales.
I thought this pretty neat when I first came across it but now that I've watched the video, I think I might be in love. Look at that sweet, nano-smile! And that music! Group hug, guys.
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Question:
Do you know how moth balls smell??
Answer:
Yes, they smell awful.
Joke:
Really, and how do you get their little legs apart?
Question:
Do you know how moth balls smell??
Answer:
Yes, they smell awful.
Joke:
Really, and how do you get their little legs apart?
Not true!
Hehe, that's what I was thinking. However, just like people snowmen can come in all sizes.
That one has 3 sections, just like us head, torso and the legs section, the micro snowman just has 2 he has no legs
- Too Much Time on My Hands by Styx (on You Tube)
Like all of us, even researchers working for the greater good need a break once in a while. Why not mix in a little fun with your work... nano style!
Next year: Frosty the cancer-hunting nanobot...
Cue the music:
Frosty the nanobot was a cancer eating fiend,
With a biomolecular pipe and a ion deposited platinum nose
And two eyes made by depletion via ion beam.
Frosty the nanobot is a fairy tale, they say,
He was made of tin but the children who are
Thin, know he saved a life by destroying cancer cells.
I think Renegade is actually Tommy Shaw trying to sell greatest hits albums by posting in forums found by googling styx lyrics!
Riddle: What's the difference between a snowman and a snowwoman?