You're about to see the movie that holds the Guinness World Records™ record for the World's Smallest Stop-Motion Film. The ability to move single atoms — the smallest particles of any element in the universe — is crucial to IBM's research in the field of atomic memory. But even nanophysicists need to have a little fun. In that spirit, IBM researchers used a scanning tunneling microscope to move thousands of carbon monoxide molecules (two atoms stacked on top of each other), all in pursuit of making a movie so small it can be seen only when you magnify it 100 million times. A movie made with atoms.
"IBM's A Boy And His Atom: The World's Smallest Movie" is a short film created by scientists at IBM Research. It tells the story of a boy and his friend, a single atom, as they go on an adventure through a world that is too small to see with the naked eye.
The movie was created using a scanning tunneling microscope, which can move and manipulate individual atoms. Scientists carefully arranged carbon monoxide molecules on a copper surface to form the shapes and characters seen in the movie.
The movie was created to demonstrate the possibilities of nanotechnology and to showcase IBM's advancements in the field. It also serves as a fun and creative way to engage people in science and technology.
The movie took approximately two weeks to create, with each frame being captured and edited individually. The entire process, from planning to final product, took about four months.
This movie is significant because it showcases the ability to manipulate and control individual atoms, which has potential applications in fields such as medicine, electronics, and materials science. It also serves as a testament to human curiosity and creativity in pushing the boundaries of what is possible.