Atom-Thick Balloon Inflated 120
Anonymous Cow writes "Researchers have inflated gas-filled balloons of graphene, the atom-thick carbon material being used to make super-small transistors. Apart from giving them a valid claim to be in the Guinness Book of Records, it could apparently be handy for weighing microscopic objects. 'The sheets were used to seal microscopic wells made in a layer of silica glass, forming a kind of drum head. The membranes were held in place only by the van der Waals forces that make things sticky at microscopic scales. The wells varied from 1 to 100 square micrometers in area and 250 nanometers to 3 micrometers deep.'"
Great! (Score:5, Funny)
Just Friggin Great!
Now my kid's going to want one of THESE tied to her wrist!
(((pop))) (Score:4, Funny)
This will immediately lead to a companion record for the world's quietest popping sound when one of them has a weak point.
Re:Prick? (Score:5, Funny)
...sticky at microscopic scales (Score:4, Funny)
Your girlfriend is skeptical you were ever wearing an "atom-thick condom" to begin with.
Dora the explorer! (Score:2, Funny)
using sticky tape to peel layers from a chunk of graphite.
The author must have small kids, or eclectic tastes in television shows.
Bubble Wrap (Score:5, Funny)
This is great, we now have the capacity to create bubble wrap, suitable for packing/protecting nanobots.
Awesome stuff folks.
Re:(((pop))) (Score:3, Funny)
Richard Branson (Score:2, Funny)
Re:consumer uses (Score:5, Funny)
1 to 100 square micrometers in area and 250 nanometers to 3 micrometers deep
I'm sure it'll be perfect for you.
Re:I think they've just upped the ante... (Score:5, Funny)
At last, life-size balloon bacteria!
Re:Dora the explorer! (Score:1, Funny)
Arrrrrgh! We be using duck tape f'er that!
Re:consumer uses (Score:5, Funny)
What! Who let the physicists in?
Listen you, this is the internets, we can't be dealing with your smug 'fundamental laws of the universe' stuff.
If it don't explode, or have boobies, it ain't interesting, YOU GOT THAT!!!!!
Re:(((pop))) (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Wait a minute (Score:2, Funny)
I do this every time I change the blade. What is so hard about that?
Wait... did you mean when it is on?
Lefty, is that you?
Re:Great! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:consumer uses (Score:5, Funny)
I was going to construct an elegant and incisive rebuttal to your comment, but your use of the term 'graphene monolayer' confused me, and I find myself resorting to a response of lower intellectual calibre.
To whit
"So's your face"
I am reliably informed that this always works, therefore I win..
Re:consumer uses (Score:3, Funny)
And thanks to the current thread subject, I just got the horrible thought of a long paper cut on my glans penis. Ouch!