We Don't Much Care About Hydrogen but the Microscopy is Astounding - Science

A hydrogen bond forms between a propellane (lower molecule) and the carbon monoxide functionalized tip of an atomic force microscope. The measured forces and the distance between the oxygen atom at the AFM tip and the propellane’s hydrogen atoms correspond precisely to the calculations.

Credit: University of Basel, Department of Physics


For the first time, scientists have succeeded in studying the strength of hydrogen bonds in a single molecule using an atomic force microscope. Researchers from the University of Basel's Swiss Nanoscience Institute network have reported the results in the journal Science Advances.

Science Daily:  Hydrogen bonds directly detected for the first time


As I said, the Rockhouse doesn't much care about the hydrogen but the term 'atomic force microscopic' is just too same sexy to pass.

Ed:  sexy?

Like a Danielle Steele potboiler, mate.

Ed:  that was just raunch.  Pfft.

Well, hopefully sexier than that ... atomic force microscopy ... whoa, this is Jetsons territory.


To date, it has not been possible to conduct a spectroscopic or electron microscopic analysis of hydrogen and the hydrogen bonds in single molecules, and investigations using atomic force microscopy have also not yielded any clear results.

Dr. Shigeki Kawai, from Professor Ernst Meyer's team at the Swiss Nanoscience Institute and the Department of Physics at the University of Basel, has now succeeded in using a high-resolution atomic force microscope to study hydrogen atoms in individual cyclic hydrocarbon compounds.

- SD

Maybe too dry but I'm going for it.  Is it really necessary to use the term 'high resolution' in the context of a microscope which looks at atoms.


We can't tell from the context of the article anything which identifies the picture so the Rockhouse is assuming that's the artist's conception.

Don't you want to see the atoms, mate?  We have heard about these atoms since we were wee lads but nary an atom to be seen and now they're looking right at them.  Well, let's see some of that.  Am I right, mates?

Ed:  people don't much read the science articles, Silas

That's a weeper, ain't it.  More atoms for us!