IBM Research Creates Worlds Smallest 3D Map

IBM scientists have created the smallest 3D map of the earth - so small that 1,000 maps could fit on a grain of salt*. The scientists accomplished this through a new, breakthrough technique that uses a tiny, silicon tip with a sharp apex -- one million times smaller than an ant -- to create patterns and structures as small as 15 nanometers at greatly reduced cost and complexity. This patterning technique opens new prospects for developing nanosized objects in fields such as electronics, future chip technology, medicine, life sciences, and opto-electronics.

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  Science & Technology

[jlm2525]

@IBMResearchZurich Great work IBM!! “Potential applications…fabricating 3D nanoparticles to shape-matching templates for the self-assembly of nanoscale objects…” Then I have a question: Could this be applied to building nanomachines such as nanofactories, and later nanorobots?

[IBMResearchZurich]

MEMS devices are certainly an area of interest. IBM is most interested in licensing the tool and technique.

[timg455]

So what exactly is the application of this?

[IBMResearchZurich]

Potential applications range from fast prototyping for CMOS nanoelectronics to creating prototype optical components and meta-materials, from fabricating 3D nanoparticles to shape-matching templates for the self-assembly of nanoscale objects such as nanorods or nanotubes.

[Starfistfc]

Would you explain to the nice people on the internet what nanorods and nanotubes are?

[IBMResearchZurich]

Well easiest to pull from Wikipedia, nanorods are one morphology of nanoscale objects. Each of their dimensions range from 1100 nm. They may be synthesized from metals or semiconducting materials and a nanotube is a nanometer-scale tube-like structure.

[IBMResearchZurich]

Do you know more specifically? We can take a look and explain how this is different.

[NeoMatudio]

Maps that are smaller than a grain of salt. amazing. Nothing is impossible nowadays.

[happinesson]

This discovery may open up new doors for technology development. I salute you guys!

[saijai587]

Thank you for sharing. IBM Research is smart.

[liang8231]

IBM is great. The application is also great.

[jamecolte]

This video is very informative. This application is good for 3D map

[DoctorPloppers]

who doesnt know what a nanotube is.