Scientists Make Nano-Cupid for Valentine's Day
Posted on February 12, 2013
Brigham Young University (BYU) researchers made a tiny nano-cupid for Valentine's Day. The cupid's arm is the width of a human hair. The cupid was made from nanotubes, which are only about 20 atoms across. They are about 99% air.
To make the tiny cupid the scientists first put a pattern of microscopic iron "seeds" on a plate. Next they the blasted the plate with heated gas, which causes a miniature forest of carbon nanotubes to spring up. The nano-cupid is very fragile at this point.
BYU physics professor Robert Davis said in a statement, "It' a really fragile structure at this point - blowing on it or touching it would destroy it."
The scientists then strengthened the nano-cupid by coating it with metals and other materials.
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