Der Nano - Schneemann

This festive image was created by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the UK’s measurement institute. The world’s smallest model snowman is 0.01 mm across - about 1/5th the width of the average human hair. The nose measures 0.7 microns, or 0.0007 mm. The snowman is made of two tiny tin beads, of the kind used to calibrate electron microscope lenses. It was assembled manually using a system designed to manipulate nano-particles, and welded together with tiny deposits of platinum. A focused ion beam was used to carve the eyes and smile, and to deposit platinum for the nose. The tools used to create the snowman are normally used to examine nanomaterials to help develop the nanotechnology of the future. NPL is one of the UK’s leading science facilities and research centres. It is a world-leading centre of excellence in developing and applying the most accurate standards, science and technology available. The snowman was created by Dr David Cox, who is seconded to the Quantum Detection group at NPL from the Advanced Technology Institute at the University of Surrey.