Now You Can Actually See Molecules

[Buffy]

This is incredibly cool:

 

For the first time, scientists have visually captured a molecule at single-atom resolution in the act of rearranging its bonds. The images look startlingly similar to the stick diagrams in chemistry textbooks.

Until now, scientists were only able to infer molecular structures. Using atomic force microscopy, the individual atomic bonds — each a few ten-millionths of a millimeter long – that connect the carbon molecule’s 26 carbon and 14 hydrogen atoms are clearly visible.

 

 

 

Next I wanna see an "electron cloud"... :cheer:

 

Seeing, contrary to popular wisdom, isn't believing. It's where belief stops, because it isn't needed any more, :phones:

[Rade]

Here is the paper abstract:

 

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2013/05/29/science.1238187.abstract

Edited May 31, 2013 by Rade

[Rade]

Next I wanna see an "electron cloud"... :cheer:

Here it is:

 

http://io9.com/the-first-image-ever-of-a-hydrogen-atoms-orbital-struc-509684901

 

with abstract:

 

http://prl.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v110/i21/e213001

 

Edit: June 1

 

Here is a free internet copy of the paper, published in Phys Rev Lett, vol 110, issue 21, 2013:

 

http://physics.aps.org/featured-article-pdf/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.213001

 

==

 

Edit comment: June 1

 

I would like to see this technique applied to the next three stable isotopes in the universe, deuterium (np), helium-3 (nnp), helium 4(nnpp). It would be fascinating to see how the electron wave function changes as neutrons and protons are added as a step function.

Edited June 1, 2013 by Rade

[Buffy]

Here it is:

 

http://io9.com/the-first-image-ever-of-a-hydrogen-atoms-orbital-struc-509684901

 

Did you check out the annotations on the picture? They're hilarious!

 

"If you keep staring at me like that, my wave function is gonna collaAAAAhhh..."

 

 

Quantum physics thus reveals a basic oneness of the universe, :phones:

Buffy

[sunshaker]

http://io9.com/the-first-image-ever-of-a-hydrogen-atoms-orbital-struc-509684901

 

I believe our universe to be an electron, The above image looks like i would imagine the Big Bang,

 

Perhaps soon when our instruments get even better we will start to see galaxies, stars, until we end up looking in on ourselves from the outside B)