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Mar 11, 2012

Researchers Capture First-Ever Images of Atoms Moving Inside a Molecule

That ripple effect you see in that photo up there represents any changes the molecule went through during the quadrillionth of a second that transpired between laser pulses. Yes, that's the kind of rare, psychedelic shot that's sure to earn DiMauro and team bragging rights, but the scientists also say this technique could have practical implications for observing -- and ultimately manipulating -- chemical reactions at an atomic level. 

Of course, it could be a long time yet before scientists analyze complex proteins in such detail: for the purposes of this experiment, the researchers stuck with simple nitrogen and oxygen molecules, with which chemistry scholars are already quite familiar. In fact, the researchers don't elaborate at all on specific studies where this technique might be useful, but you might want to hit up the source link nonetheless for some of the more technical details of how they pulled off this experiment in the first place. More here.
 
 

7 comments:

R said...

Looks epic!

Outcast said...

Wow that is amazing!

sundersartwork said...

Things are getting more and more smaller. We already have nano technology in engineering and their starting to use it in medicine too. Wonder how small it will end up being?./

Trolske said...

Looks pretty much like a proof for the atomic orbitals.

See on TV said...

Haha! So epic! It looks totally amazing.

G said...

That is fairly bad ass - the things they can do

Archivist X0042 said...

amazing to think how far we have come as a society...can't believe we are seeing the insides!