Happy Holidays!

Friday, December 11 2009

In science news not green but white, scientists at the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL), have created the world's smallest "snowman" at 10µm across - 1/5th the width of a human hair. The snowman was made from two tin beads used to calibrate electron microscope astigmatism.

The team used a nanomanipulation system to assemble the parts, and platinum deposition to weld all elements together. The snowman is mounted on a silicon cantilever from an atomic force microscope, whose sharp tip 'feels' surfaces - creating topographic surveys at almost atomic scales.

Below is a short holiday-themed video showing just how small this snowman is.

(NPL)