Single molecule microscopy using an AFM
BBC News article.
The detailed chemical structure of a single molecule has been imaged for the first time, say researchers.
The physical shape of single carbon nanotubes has been outlined before, using similar techniques - but the new method even shows up chemical bonds.
Understanding molecular structure on this scale could help in the design of many things on the molecular scale, particularly electronics or even drugs.
The IBM researchers report their findings in the journal Science.
That's pretty damned impressive, even if I did want to kill the BBC for referring to the article as a "photograph of a single molecule". It's also worth noting that on the Technology page this story plays second fiddle to "File Sharer's TV Tastes Revealed" with a picture of the Stig from Top Gear *weeps for the world*.
The detailed chemical structure of a single molecule has been imaged for the first time, say researchers.
The physical shape of single carbon nanotubes has been outlined before, using similar techniques - but the new method even shows up chemical bonds.
Understanding molecular structure on this scale could help in the design of many things on the molecular scale, particularly electronics or even drugs.
The IBM researchers report their findings in the journal Science.
That's pretty damned impressive, even if I did want to kill the BBC for referring to the article as a "photograph of a single molecule". It's also worth noting that on the Technology page this story plays second fiddle to "File Sharer's TV Tastes Revealed" with a picture of the Stig from Top Gear *weeps for the world*.