Student at Delft University of Technology creates the world’s smallest Christmas tree of just 51 atoms from a perfect crystal lattice
- The smallest artificial Christmas tree in the world is the size of a DNA strand
- It consists of 51 individual atoms and measures only four nanometers in height
- One student used a device that allowed him to scan individual atoms
- Then he used a high-powered microscope to change everyone’s position
Many people strive to find the largest tree for the holidays, but one student did the exact opposite – she created the smallest Christmas tree in the world.
Maura Williams of Delft University of Technology designed a festive tree made up of individual atoms that is only four nanometers tall – not counting the tree.
Williams used a device that allowed him to scan each atom and change its position to form the iconic shape.
The structure consists of 51 atoms in a perfect crystal lattice, which translates to the size of a DNA strand or 40,000 times smaller than a human hair.
The smallest Christmas tree in the world has a height of four nanometers, which is the size of a DNA strand. The structure consists of 51 individual atoms
The largest artificial Christmas tree is in Sri Lanka, which is over 236 feet tall and has set Guinness World Records for its height.
However, Williams’ small artificial tree can be an even bigger achievement.
The little tree was a graduation project, in which it used a tunnel scanning microscope, which is designed to scan individual atoms and change their positions.
This technology is used to study the individual quantum mechanical properties of each atom.
Maura Williams, a student at Delft University of Technology, used a tunnel scanning microscope. This device is able to scan atoms and change positions
The largest artificial Christmas tree is in Sri Lanka (pictured), which is over 236 feet tall and has set Guinness World Records for its height. However, Williams’ small artificial tree can be an even bigger achievement
Williams used this massive piece of machinery to build the small tree, adjusting each of the 51 atoms individually to create the shape of a Christmas tree.
The end result was a small green Christmas tree, which is about the size of a DNA strand.
Scientists conduct these interesting experiments to better understand the world around them – even if they usually have a fun result.
Just last October, a team from Leiden University unveiled a 3D-printed boat about the third thickness of a human hair.
It was created to track known bacteria known as microswimmers to better understand how they work.
From prow to stern, this boat measures 30 micrometers or about 0.001 inches and required an electron microscope to capture an image of the completed object.
Scientists conduct these interesting experiments to better understand the world around them – even if they usually have a fun result. Just last October, a team from Leiden University unveiled a 3D-printed boat about the third thickness of a human hair.
The researchers created a number of other objects as part of the process of testing their 3D printing technique. This included a starship, balls and a spiral object that can be used in reality
The team claims that future 3D-printed “microswimmers” made using their technique could be designed to deliver targeted drugs inside the body or to diagnose a condition.
They also printed spiral-shaped particles, which rotate over time as they are propelled through water to follow microswimmers that can be seen under a microscope.
The microbar has no propeller and is based on a standard boat design used to test 3D printers – testing a new small-scale 3D printer.
The team says that using 3D printing techniques allows them to make a range of shapes to find the best design for tracking real microswimmers through fluid.
In the future, the technique could also be used to create synthetic microswimmers that can travel through the human body to diagnose diseases or to deliver targeted drugs.