Scientists capture the shadow cast by a single atom (http://www.gizmag.com/atom-shadow-picture/23204/)

http://images.gizmag.com/hero/atom_shadow_picture-3.jpg (http://www.gizmag.com/atom-shadow-picture/23204/)

scientists have obtained a digital image of the shadow cast by a single atom, in a development that might soon lead to important advances in scientific observations ranging from the very big to the very small.the atom's shadow was cast onto a detector and then captured by a digital camera. This was possible because of a super high-resolution microscope, which makes the shadow dark enough to see. No other facility in the world sports a resolution high enough to allow for such an extreme feat.

(GizMag (http://www.gizmag.com/atom-shadow-picture/23204/))

Crap photography--it's all pixellated!

An amazing even, CM.

Crap photography--it's all pixellated!

True, but think what is being photographed. This is harder, I would imagine, than taking of picture of pixies dancing on the head of a pin.

Rather than start a new thread, I thought it might be of interest to see how technology has advanced for imaging the itsy-bitsy pieces that make up our world:

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18ontxblfw77lpng/k-bigpic.png

The First Image Ever of a Hydrogen Atom's Orbital Structure (http://io9.com/the-first-image-ever-of-a-hydrogen-atoms-orbital-struc-509684901)

What you’re looking at is the first direct observation of an atom’s electron orbital — an atom's actual wave function! To capture the image, researchers utilized a new quantum microscope — an incredible new device that literally allows scientists to gaze into the quantum realm.

(Full story at io9 (http://io9.com/the-first-image-ever-of-a-hydrogen-atoms-orbital-struc-509684901))

Still pretty bit-mappy, but the implications are amazing. :)

Also, you never know with yoctometers.

Jeez - it's like a bunch of geeks found some new toys to play with...

Imaging Breakthrough: See Atomic Bonds Before and After Molecular Reaction (http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/05/atomic-level-images/?cid=8422434)

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/wp-content/gallery/single-atom-rearrangement/57029.jpg (http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/05/atomic-level-images/?cid=8422434)

A ringed, carbon-containing molecule, shown both before and after it has rearranged itself, with the two most common reaction products included. The scale bars measure 3 angstroms, or three ten-billionths of a meter, across. Image and Caption: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and University of California at BerkeleyFor 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.

(Wired (http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/05/atomic-level-images/?cid=8422434))