IBM Images a Single Molecule

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."

Cool, but...

[sircastor]

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.

5 Rings?

[idontgno]

Miyamoto Musashi [wikipedia.org] would be intrigued.

Next story:

[Anonymous Coward]

Next story: IBM is sued by the IOC.

As expected...

[Drakkenmensch]

The molecule blinked right when the snapshot was taken.

5 linked rings

[russotto]

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

Re:Cool, but...

[tecnico.hitos]

...The only thing that would make it moreso is if little Cs were set next to each atom.

They are still working on it.

Re:5 linked rings

[Shrike82]

You should have gone with:

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

Re:link to journal abstract

[Anonymous Coward]

The abstract is free.

But the concrete is a bitch.

Damn, If they scale this thing up...

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Re:5 linked rings

[TimeTraveler1884]

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

Re:5 Rings?

[mfnickster]

Miyamoto Musashi would be intrigued.

So would the International Olympic Committee [wikipedia.org]!

For some reason...

[Myria]

Why do I have the sudden urge to play Arkanoid?

Re:Cool, but...

[electricprof]

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

Re:What Material Is the Pantacene Sitting On?

[jeffb (2.718)]

Scrith.

But...

[SnarfQuest]

Can it be used to create biodiesel?

Re:Cool, but...

[An ominous Cow art]

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

Single Molecule

[hidannik]

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."