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IBM Images a Single Molecule

Posted by kdawson on from the blow-it-up dept.

chrb writes "New Scientist is reporting that researchers at IBM Zurich have managed to image a single molecule in detail for the first time. In the images of a pentacene molecule, the bonds between the carbon atoms are visible as five linked rings."

17 of 169 comments (clear)

  1. Cool, but... by sircastor · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess I expected it to look a little less like a High-school textbook drawing of the bonds. The only thing that would make it moreso is if little Cs were set next to each atom.

    1. Re:Cool, but... by tecnico.hitos · · Score: 3, Funny
      ...The only thing that would make it moreso is if little Cs were set next to each atom.

      They are still working on it.

      --
      The good, the evil and the vacuum tubes.
    2. Re:Cool, but... by electricprof · · Score: 5, Funny

      The little C's are there, but they are in 0.000000001 font. I think it's Arial.

    3. Re:Cool, but... by An+ominous+Cow+art · · Score: 2, Funny

      True. Molecules are awfully small though. Maybe he just has to squint harder.

  2. 5 Rings? by idontgno · · Score: 1, Funny

    Miyamoto Musashi would be intrigued.

    --
    Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
    1. Re:5 Rings? by mfnickster · · Score: 2, Funny

      Miyamoto Musashi would be intrigued.

      So would the International Olympic Committee!

      --
      "Slow down, Cowboy! It has been 3 years, 7 months and 26 days since you last successfully posted a comment."
  3. Next story: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Next story: IBM is sued by the IOC.

  4. As expected... by Drakkenmensch · · Score: 4, Funny

    The molecule blinked right when the snapshot was taken.

  5. 5 linked rings by russotto · · Score: 4, Funny

    4 calling birds
    3 french hens
    2 turtle doves
    and a partridge in a pair tree?

    1. Re:5 linked rings by Shrike82 · · Score: 5, Funny

      You should have gone with:

      5 linked rings
      4 carbon bonds
      3 electrons
      2 tiny dots
      and a grainy image on my PC...

      --
      You can advertise in this sig from as little as £99.99 a month!
    2. Re:5 linked rings by TimeTraveler1884 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Ah ha ha ha! It's like the original joke never happened!
      (Much like the 2003 Hulk movie)

  6. Re:link to journal abstract by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The abstract is free.

    But the concrete is a bitch.

  7. Damn, If they scale this thing up... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...we may finally be able to see what color the tinker-toy rods and balls are on pentacene.

  8. For some reason... by Myria · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why do I have the sudden urge to play Arkanoid?

    --
    "Screw Sun, cross-platform will never work. Let's move on and steal the Java language." - Visual J++ Product Manager
  9. Re:What Material Is the Pantacene Sitting On? by jeffb+(2.718) · · Score: 2, Funny

    Scrith.

  10. But... by SnarfQuest · · Score: 2, Funny

    Can it be used to create biodiesel?

    --
    Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
  11. Single Molecule by hidannik · · Score: 2, Funny

    In a follow-up session, the Zurich researchers announced that by this time next year, they hope to have imaged two molecules. "We won't stop there," said one scientist, "We plan to image ten, then a thousand, and so on until we are able to image an entire piece of, say, fairy-cake."