IBM Researchers Image Electrical Charge Distribution In a Single Molecule

alphadogg writes with this selection from Network World:"IBM researchers for the first time have succeeded in imaging how charge is distributed inside a single molecule, which is a fundamental research breakthrough as scientists try to miniaturize circuitry to the nanometer scale. IBM is studying molecular structures when put on artificial surfaces so functional molecules in the future can be used as switches or transistors, said Fabian Mohn, an IBM researcher. IBM used advanced microscopy tools and techniques to image how charge is redistributed and arranged when chemical bonds are formed between atoms and molecules on surfaces."

No Pictures?

[Pikoro]

And once again, there is no picture in the article. Why post a story about the creation of an imaging technique without pics.

tl;dr pics or it didn't happen.

Re:No Pictures?

[game kid]

It was a naked molecule, all alone. If we don't know its age how can we be sure the pictures are even legal?

Re:

[toruonu]

Not entirely true. Molecules are combinations of atoms meaning that you cannot be certain this one wasn't produced mere seconds before it was "photographed". Then again, noone considers a picture of a newborn baby nude as child porn so again, why no picture.

Oh and even atoms cannot be considered as something that was made at the big bang. There's nuclear fusion and fission happening all the time. At best the underlying quarks may or may not have been originally created or they may have come into existence d

Re:

[umghhh]

this is pure pr0n - I got a hard on already....

Re:

[mazarin5]

At least one pic here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17156036 [bbc.co.uk]

Re:No Pictures?

[mazarin5]

And tons here: http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nnano.2012.20.html [nature.com]

Re:

[TheInternetGuy]

Meh,

Those pictures are so obviously photo-shopped.

Re:

[ColdWetDog]

No! It's saying that the Universe is really Red vs. Blue.

I'm all depressed again....

Re:

[FrootLoops]

That is the beauty of physics--getting hard-to-obtain experimental evidence that agrees with theory [wikipedia.org], vindicating the theory enough in similar situations to trust theoretical calculations in lieu of performing difficult experiments. Bonus points if the theory is mathematically beautiful (as quantum mechanics is; go ahead, try and tell me the spectral theorem's characterization of Hermitian operators in Hilbert space isn't astonishingly pretty when interpreted physically!). Even more points for awesome pictur

Re:

[paiute]

And tons here: http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nnano.2012.20.html [nature.com]

And here is the structure they are imaging: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naphthalocyanine [wikipedia.org]

Re:No Pictures?

[PatPending]

Here is the source: Full text and pictures here [nature.com] or as a PDF here [readcube.com].

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

The molecule in question is under-aged. Won't someone think of the children?

Re:

[flyneye]

Turns out they were "shopped" by the Chinese "Scientists".

Flickr

[PS3Penguin]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ibm_research_zurich/sets/72157629144258045/ [flickr.com]

Re:

[Dusty]

That's great, they even have a picture of Fabian Mohn putting the atom to be imaged into the scope:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ibm_research_zurich/6807218837/in/set-72157629144258045 [flickr.com]

:-)

Amazing discovery(ies)

[hcs_$reboot]

Jan 26, IBM creates 9nm carbon nanotube transistor
Oct 14, IBM Eyes Brain-Like Computing
Aug 18, IBM creates learning, brain-like synaptic CPU
...more here... [slashdot.org]
Is it only a recurring signal to motivate the shareholders, or is it intended to produce some tangible applications in a not-so-far future?

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

Is it only a recurring signal to motivate the shareholders, or is it intended to produce some tangible applications in a not-so-far future?

Depends on your definition of "not-so-far". Base research is not meant to yield immediate results to put in a product to sell. These discoveries are meant to open completely new horizons which most likely will end up with some product, but not in the short term. Base research is a long term investment, and IBM's base research has always been truly impressive.

Re:

[bws111]

You think IBM gets the money when Buffett (or anyone else) buys stock?

Re:

[VortexCortex]

Jan 26, IBM creates 9nm carbon nanotube transistor
Oct 14, IBM Eyes Brain-Like Computing
Aug 18, IBM creates learning, brain-like synaptic CPU
Is it only a recurring signal to motivate the shareholders, or is it intended to produce some tangible applications in a not-so-far future?

I suppose that depends on whether you think your neural network is the highest bar nature is likely to achieve, or if having an evolutionary mechanism become self aware could possibly NOT accelerate the evolutionary process... Well, actually, I suppose it really depends on if you think there is any money to be made in the inevitable Cyborg Revolution.

I speak Machine Code, guess who's side I'm on? .... Wrong! No ones! Muah ha HA!

Re:

[dsgrntlxmply]

Perhaps it is a signal to shareholders that IBM, unlike most other corporations, maintain a time horizon that extends beyond three or twelve months, and demonstrate this by investing in basic research. That bears a continuing expense, but it also can sustain the company farther into the future. The capacity to contribute to current advancement in foundational science, can also bring the capacity to inform and advise efforts in domains closer to application.

Here's a picture, the actual article, etc.

[cowtamer]

You would think that any journalist who is writing an article about something being imaged would also include the picture:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17156036 [bbc.co.uk]

Here's the link to the actual article with more pictures:

http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nnano.2012.20.html [nature.com]

Here's the article:
Imaging the charge distribution within a single molecule
Fabian Mohn, Leo Gross, Nikolaj Moll & Gerhard Meyer
Nature Nanotechnology (2012) doi:10.1038/nnano.2012.20

It's lazy journalists who couldn't do 2 minutes of Googling who are killing journalism, not the Internet or Online Publishing!

Obligatory

[Ihmhi]

Obligatory physics jokes, let's just get them outta the way:

A photon goes to the airport and buys a ticket. The ticket agent asks if he has any luggage. "Nope," says the photon, "I'm traveling light."

Next!

Re:

[Ihmhi]

Almost 12 hours and not a single reply? Slashdot, I am disappointed in you. Go to your root dir and no supper until you clear your cache.

Re:

[Traksius Egas]

Here's an olde for ya:

"A neutron walks into a bar; he asks the bartender, 'How much for a beer?' The bartender looks at him, and says 'For you, no charge.' "