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Writing with a Nanoscale Fountain Pen

Posted by timothy on from the I-would-like-this-for-postcards dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "I'm sure that almost all of you have used a fountain pen. But imagine a pen drawing lines only 40 nanometers in width. Now, it can be done with the Nanofountain Probe (NFP) developed by scientists at Northwestern University. This innovative fountain pen "employs a volcano-like dispensing tip and capillary fed solutions to enable sub-100 nanometer molecular writing." But it needs to be mounted on an atomic force microscope (AFM) to be useful, so it probably is something you'll not find at your local drugstore for a while. However, this nanofountain probe could have applications for nanosensors, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Read more for other details, pictures and references."

17 comments

  1. Re:Shut up Roland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    yup, we're rolling in roland ;~)

  2. Fine print. by jZnat · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just imagine the fine print that can be generated with this.

    "What do you mean I agreed to it?"
    "Well, if you closely examine this area that looks like an eyelash, you can almost see the thread of paper we used to write it on..."

    --
    'Yes, firefox is indeed greater than women. Can women block pops up for you? No. Can Firefox show you naked women? Yes.'
  3. Don't do the pale by YellowElf · · Score: 3, Informative
    Don't click the Pico-pale link!!! Down with the link-whore! Use the innovative fountain pen link instead. It's the original source.

    --dv

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    Insert witty saying or aphorism here.
  4. spam by YGingras · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    This story is definitely spam. Please don't click on the links. The solution to spam is education.

  5. mod parent up by cipher+uk · · Score: 1

    if i had my 5 unused points still i'd mod you up myself. rolands site adds nothing to the discussion except ads.

  6. Secret Letters by Goalie_Ca · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now i can have that affair that i've always wanted with that chick who operates the tunnelling electron microscope. I can send her love letters on invoices and memos and no one will know. Muhahahahahah!!!

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    Go canucks, habs, and sens!
  7. Wait for it.... by centauri · · Score: 1

    But imagine a pen drawing lines only 40 nanometers in width. Now, it can be done...

    Jeez, it took them long enough. I've been wanting to do that since the end of that previous sentence.

    --
    Don't blame me, I voted for Durga.
  8. the uses? by whitetiger0990 · · Score: 1

    What are they going to do, write "Don't touch lens" or "Keep clean" or "Save the whales"? anyone know more descriptive uses?

    Also it must be a pain to put ink in.

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    You have been warned.
    1. Re:the uses? by John+the+Stutterer · · Score: 0

      They could also write, "squint if you want to fuck"

  9. a new low... by Goldsmith · · Score: 1

    two year old research, repackaged and remarketed.

    Why do people insist on getting science from press releases? University press releases are one of the worst things to happen to the integrity of science. Of course it doesn't help that some people do so much to encourage them...

  10. Dang.... by FooAtWFU · · Score: 1

    and I thought my Esterbrook No. 62 was tiny!

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    The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
  11. PARENT HAS PERSONAL GRUDGE AGAINST SUBMITTER by Quattro+Vezina · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Mod this troll DOWN.

    You stupid little piece of shit.

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    I support the Center for Consumer Freedom
    1. Re:PARENT HAS PERSONAL GRUDGE AGAINST SUBMITTER by tehcrazybob · · Score: 1

      I don't see how it was such a bad comment. It may have been slightly trollish, but it was certainly more mature than your post.

      --
      Computers need to explode more often.
  12. How Useful by cowgoesmoo2004 · · Score: 1

    ... If you can read this ... you are too close!

  13. The problem by Veinor · · Score: 1

    Eventually, you get the problem that whatever is leaving the mark will make the pen bump up and down.