IBM Makes World's Smallest 3D Map with Nanotech

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Scientists from IBM have created a 3D map of the world that is so small, 1,000 of them could fit on a single grain of salt.

IBM this week reports that by using a new much less complex technique that involves a tiny, silicon tip (100,000 times smaller than the tip on a sharpened pencil), scientists can create patterns as small as 15 nanometers for much less money.

IBM says that this patterning technique opens new prospects for developing nano-sized objects in fields such as electronics, future chip technology, medicine, life sciences, and optoelectronics. However, for now, they're having fun making teeny, tiny 3D maps of the world.

Check out the video below to see how the technology works.

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Jane McEntegart
Jane McEntegart
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Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.

17 Comments Comment from the forums
  • formin
    go IBM !!!!!!
    this removes 3 or 4 steps in the chip fabrication process
    Reply
  • micr0be
    next step is adding color ...... black and white 3d nanometer scale of the world is so 10 years ago
    Reply
  • eklipz330
    omg imagine the number of formulas i can right on my thumbnail for finals with this...
    Reply
  • tommysch
    eklipz330omg imagine the number of formulas i can right on my thumbnail for finals with this...
    But the 10 foot tall microscope that you'll need to read them might give you away.
    Reply
  • micr0be
    TommySchBut the 10 foot tall microscope that you'll need to read them might give you away.
    also he spelled "right" wrong, so i think they'll just pretend they can't see anything anyway, and let him cheat.
    Reply
  • eklipz330omg imagine the number of formulas i can right on my thumbnail for finals with this...Never mind your thumbnail, use a contact lens instead. :D

    But then again, everyone in the class would be wondering why you look so cross eyed during the test!
    Reply
  • longshotthe1st
    Renegade_WarriorNever mind your thumbnail, use a contact lens instead. But then again, everyone in the class would be wondering why you look so cross eyed during the test!
    They should be looking at their own papers, not him!! lol
    Reply
  • Minus_i7
    Clearly what the eco-terrorists were trying to stop.
    Reply
  • darkknight22
    Minus_i7Clearly what the eco-terrorists were trying to stop.
    exactly, because this is going to DESTROY the environment
    Reply
  • Doctor-boom
    For all we know the map could be purple with yellow dots: it's viewed using a scanning electron microscope, which does not see colors, at ALL. You can color code the image differently than black and white, but it really look nicer this way. Note that you are not "seeing" the object really: a detector is telling the machine how many electrons came from that point on your sample, so it does not always work in the same way as a light generated image.
    Reply