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Scientists who study matter at the atomic level have an interesting problem. The atoms they study are too small to see even with an optical microscope. Find out how Dr. Chris Muhlstein of the Pennsylvania State University and his research group explore materials, like carbon, at the nanoscale, or billionth of a meter
WHAT ARE THESE STRANGE PICTURES?
They are familiar objects, candy bars and paper clips, magnified almost beyond recognition. Scientists can "read" their fracture surfaces to guess what caused them to break. Take a look for yourself.
Download a virtual microscope to view fracture surfaces of candy bar samples and paper clips at different magnifications.
Credits:
The virtual microscope is provided by the Imaging Technology Group at Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Funding provided by National Science Foundation.
"CAREER: Education and Research in Nanomaterial Degradation - The Road to Molecular Fatigue Studies," (NSF DMR- 0449684)