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Caltech Researchers Weigh Individual Molecules

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the heavy-lifting dept.

karvind writes "PhysOrg reports that physicists at the California Institute of Technology have created the first nanodevices capable of weighing individual biological molecules. This technology may lead to new forms of molecular identification that are cheaper and faster than existing methods, as well as revolutionary new instruments for proteomics. The Caltech devices are 'nanoelectromechanical resonators' -- essentially tiny tuning forks about a micron in length and a hundred or so nanometers wide that have a very specific frequency at which they vibrate when excited. Slashdot covered earlier the effort by Cornell for measuring attogram objects which also employs NEMS cantilevers."

7 of 130 comments (clear)

  1. Cool tech. Some issues by Dancin_Santa · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I was under the impression that at the atomic and molecular level there were quantum phenomena that caused particles to gain and lose mass depending on how they are arranged within the atom/molecule. For example, (just making something up) a molecular bond would result in the total mass of a molecule being less than the sum of the masses of its atoms.

    If working with isotopes, it seems feasible to measure the mass of any particular molecule. What were the issues that were blocking this sort of measurement before?

    1. Re:Cool tech. Some issues by RWerp · · Score: 5, Informative

      You're right that the bonds make the total mass smaller. But we're talking about stable molecules here, which bonded in one specific way. If their mass were to change, they would have to decay or interact with the environment. If the molecule is stable, it's energy is very well defined. The only limiting factor is the principle of uncertainty, which basically tells here, that the longer you measure the mass, the more precise you are. So the deviation of the measurement may change, but not its expectation value. It would be very interesting, however, if we could apply this -- or other -- technique to measuring masses of unstable molecules and watch how it changes in time.

      --
      "Long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead." (John Maynard Keynes)
  2. weigh station by Lotharjade · · Score: 5, Funny

    Who will be stuck working the nano-weigh station of the future? Sounds like a crappy job with a Small paycheck.

    --
    Party at O'zorgnax's Pub! Buy me a Slurmtini aye?
  3. It's true, but... by Dancin_Santa · · Score: 5, Funny

    has there been a relatively recent boom in nanotechnology?

    They are all really small breakthroughs.

  4. Medical Use by bobbuck · · Score: 5, Funny

    Doctors and hospitals need this techology right now so they can weigh patients like Calista Flockhart.

  5. Finally by aussie_a · · Score: 5, Funny

    An instrument that can now weigh my penis.

    Wait. Did I say that outloud? I guess I better turn off my spam-blocker.

  6. I think it's great... by Godwin+O'Hitler · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...that they're naming these new units after stars of the past. After zeptograms we'll no doubt be seeing grouchofarads, chicobytes, and harpohertz.

    --
    No, your children are not the special ones. Nor are your pets.