Microscope that can see molecular bonds

[ddavis425]

Using Atomic-Force Microscopy, IBM developed a microscope capable of seeing the molecular bonds of different substances. It's pretty amazing to see what these molecules actually look like, they are extremely similar to models that you see in textbooks.

Here's a link to the article, it includes some of the pictures that they have taken: http://singularityhub.com/2012/10/03/ready-new-microscope-technique-has-resolution-100-times-smaller-than-an-atom/

[mustwinfull]

That is amazing, another technology leap for us. Microscopes just keep getting better, the fact that one can see molecular bonds now is outstanding.

I had a look at some of the pictures and the article and my thoughts were just simply "Wow!".

Will we be able to but it at some point or is it just for IBM?

[Aescwulf]

Yeah this was on BBC news website and I was looking at the picture for 10 minutes and no matter what I still couldn't comprehend it.

[Menecroth]

Absolutely fascinating! Thanks for posting this. I never thought I'd look at pictures of molecular bonds.

[LaydeeDem]

This is amazing:

[Whptheenah]

Now all we need is a microscope that can pick up the electrostatic force that holds electrons in their orbit around atomic nuclei. The images would need to be as big as St. Paul's Cathedral to allow the nucleus to be visible to the naked eye, but we could finally get images that have a resolution 20,000+ times the diameter of an atom

[Cydonia]

Amazing to see how AFM tech is advancing.