Writing with a Nanoscale Fountain Pen

Roland Piquepaille writes "I'm sure that almost all of you have used a fountain pen. But imagine a pen drawing lines only 40 nanometers in width. Now, it can be done with the Nanofountain Probe (NFP) developed by scientists at Northwestern University. This innovative fountain pen "employs a volcano-like dispensing tip and capillary fed solutions to enable sub-100 nanometer molecular writing." But it needs to be mounted on an atomic force microscope (AFM) to be useful, so it probably is something you'll not find at your local drugstore for a while. However, this nanofountain probe could have applications for nanosensors, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Read more for other details, pictures and references."

Fine print.

[jZnat]

Just imagine the fine print that can be generated with this.

"What do you mean I agreed to it?"
"Well, if you closely examine this area that looks like an eyelash, you can almost see the thread of paper we used to write it on..."

Don't do the pale

[YellowElf]

Don't click the Pico-pale link!!! Down with the link-whore! Use the innovative fountain pen [eurekalert.org] link instead. It's the original source.

--dv

mod parent up

[cipher uk]

if i had my 5 unused points still i'd mod you up myself. rolands site adds nothing to the discussion except ads.

PARENT HAS PERSONAL GRUDGE AGAINST SUBMITTER

[Quattro Vezina]

Mod this troll DOWN.

You stupid little piece of shit.

Re:PARENT HAS PERSONAL GRUDGE AGAINST SUBMITTER

[tehcrazybob]

I don't see how it was such a bad comment. It may have been slightly trollish, but it was certainly more mature than your post.

Secret Letters

[Goalie_Ca]

Now i can have that affair that i've always wanted with that chick who operates the tunnelling electron microscope. I can send her love letters on invoices and memos and no one will know. Muhahahahahah!!!

Wait for it....

[centauri]

But imagine a pen drawing lines only 40 nanometers in width. Now, it can be done...

Jeez, it took them long enough. I've been wanting to do that since the end of that previous sentence.

the uses?

[whitetiger0990]

What are they going to do, write "Don't touch lens" or "Keep clean" or "Save the whales"? anyone know more descriptive uses?

Also it must be a pain to put ink in.

a new low...

[Goldsmith]

two year old research, repackaged and remarketed.

Why do people insist on getting science from press releases? University press releases are one of the worst things to happen to the integrity of science. Of course it doesn't help that some people do so much to encourage them...

Dang....

[FooAtWFU]

and I thought my Esterbrook No. 62 [tripod.com] was tiny!

How Useful

[cowgoesmoo2004]

... If you can read this ... you are too close!

The problem

[Veinor]

Eventually, you get the problem that whatever is leaving the mark will make the pen bump up and down.