Detailed Images Show Intra-Molecular Bonds

Techmeology writes "A team from IBM in Zurich has published images of molecules that are detailed enough to show the lengths of atomic bonds. 'The IBM team's innovation to create the first single molecule picture, of a molecule called pentacene, was to use the tip to pick up a single, small molecule made up of a carbon and an oxygen atom. This carbon monoxide molecule effectively acts as a record needle, probing with unprecedented accuracy the very surfaces of atoms. It is difficult to overstate what precision measurements these are. The experiments must be isolated from any kind of vibration coming from within the laboratory or even its surroundings. They are carried out at a scale so small that room temperature induces wigglings of the AFM's constituent molecules that would blur the images, so the apparatus is kept at a cool -268C.' This allows an analysis of imperfections in the molecular structure (abstract). The team plans to use the method to examine molecules of graphene."

Comments

What this SHOULD be used for...

[Dr.Bob,DC]

This is actually good science.

Chiropractic researchers and interested neurologists should use this technology to study the subtle, yet catastrophic, micro-subluxations which are a major cause of human suffering. It is a well known fact that if you do not receive regular chiropractic adjustments, the chances of you having health-damanging subluxations are nearly 100%.

D.D. Palmer trained the first Chiropractors to detect and eliminate such scourges. It's nice to see science catching up with Chiropractic circa 1895!