Life Molecule imaged for first time ever... - Page 2

**petegz28** · 08-30-2009, 08:43 PM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...ured-time.html

Quote:

It may look like a piece of honeycomb, but this lattice-shaped image is the first ever close-up view of a single molecule.
Scientists from IBM used an atomic force microscope (AFM) to reveal the chemical bonds within a molecule.
'This is the first time that all the atoms in a molecule have been imaged,' lead researcher Leo Gross said.

The researchers focused on a single molecule of pentacene, which is commonly used in solar cells. The rectangular-shaped organic molecule is made up of 22 carbon atoms and 14 hydrogen atoms.

In the image above the hexagonal shapes of the five carbon rings are clear and even the positions of the hydrogen atoms around the carbon rings can be seen.
To give some perspective, the space between the carbon rings is only 0.14 nanometers across, which is roughly one million times smaller than the diameter of a grain of sand.

'If you think about how a doctor uses an X-ray to image bones and organs inside the human body, we are using the atomic force microscope to image the atomic structures that are the backbones of individual molecules,' said IBM researcher Gerhard Meyer

The team from IBM Research Zurich said the results could have a huge impact of the field of nanotechnology, which seeks to understand and control some of the smallest objects known to mankind.
The AFM uses a sharp metal tip that acts like a tuning fork to measure the tiny forces between the tip and the molecule. This requires great precision as the tip moves within a nanometer of the sample.

'Above the skeleton of the molecular backbone (of the pentacene) you get a different detuning than above the surface the molecule is lying on,' Mr Gross said.
This detuning is then measured and converted into an image.
To stop the tip from absorbing the pentacene molecule, the researchers replaced the metal with a single molecule of carbon monoxide. This was found to be more stable and created weaker electrostatic attractions with the pentacene, creating a higher resolution image.

The experiment was also performed inside a high vacuum at the extremely cold temperature of -268C to avoid stray gas molecules or atomic vibrations from affecting the measurements.
'Eventually we want to investigate using molecules for molecular electronics,' Mr Gross said.
'We want to use molecules as wires or logic switches or elements.'

Pretty farging interesting......

**Lzen** · 08-31-2009, 07:38 AM

That is really cool.

**Dartgod** · 08-31-2009, 07:49 AM

What the hell?

Groves · 08-31-2009, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dartgod

What the hell?

Tamba moves from inside electron to outside electron

El Jefe · 08-31-2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bane_58

Cool,wait till they prove there was life on mars and the bible is fiction!!!!

tiptap · 08-31-2009, 08:35 AM

As far as the chemistry, I am unimpressed. It is a good test for the apparatus. But your stick layouts are as informative. And the "pictures" from Quantum theory are more valid and informative about the structure. For example. An aromatic compound (this is a picture of an cyclic non aromatic compound I believe) would have "resonant structures." This means that there are several layout of the electrons that contribute to the structure. And they are distinct in that certain chemical reactions and results are from interactions with one of the specific layouts compared to the others. When you look at this picture ONE of the structures is chosen (as in a collapsed probability field) and you would get none of the information from the other resonant structures.

It is nice to have a strong picture that atoms are real though. That alone does lead to the question if all of existence comes from the build up from small items then where is the example of something large and whole unto itself (indivisible) as is the claim for Abrahamic Gods.

**buddha** · 08-31-2009, 11:27 AM

tiptap...I think it's much more significant than a good test for the apparatus. This is Galileo type stuff. Now that we can photograph molecules at that resolution, it's only a matter of time before we find out how close we have been on our nuclear theory. It's stunning that the molecule looks so much like the theoretical model. I consider it a major advancement.

tooge · 08-31-2009, 11:45 AM

I always thought they looked like this. I had a kit of them once.

08-31-2009, 07:38 AM	#16
Lzen Banded Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Oz Casino cash: $-569308	That is really cool. __________________ Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.
Posts: 42,470

08-31-2009, 08:35 AM	#20
tiptap Is this it? Join Date: Jan 2004 Casino cash: $10007847	As far as the chemistry, I am unimpressed. It is a good test for the apparatus. But your stick layouts are as informative. And the "pictures" from Quantum theory are more valid and informative about the structure. For example. An aromatic compound (this is a picture of an cyclic non aromatic compound I believe) would have "resonant structures." This means that there are several layout of the electrons that contribute to the structure. And they are distinct in that certain chemical reactions and results are from interactions with one of the specific layouts compared to the others. When you look at this picture ONE of the structures is chosen (as in a collapsed probability field) and you would get none of the information from the other resonant structures. It is nice to have a strong picture that atoms are real though. That alone does lead to the question if all of existence comes from the build up from small items then where is the example of something large and whole unto itself (indivisible) as is the claim for Abrahamic Gods. __________________ Even a superstitious man has certain inalienable rights. He has a right to harbor and indulge his imbecilities as long as he pleases. . . He has a right to argue for them as eloquently as he can, in season and out of season. He has a right to teach them to his children. But certainly he has no right to be protected against the free criticism of those who do not hold them. He has no right to demand that they be treated as sacred. He has no right to preach them without challenge." -H.L. Mencken
Posts: 5,134

08-31-2009, 11:27 AM	#21
buddha You may think you know... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: California Casino cash: $10006184	tiptap...I think it's much more significant than a good test for the apparatus. This is Galileo type stuff. Now that we can photograph molecules at that resolution, it's only a matter of time before we find out how close we have been on our nuclear theory. It's stunning that the molecule looks so much like the theoretical model. I consider it a major advancement.
Posts: 2,183