Carbon nanotube Cupid perfect for tiny crushes

Cupid’s arm is the width of a human hair.

(Credit: Brigham Young University)

If you like someone just a teeny-weeny bit, this Cupid is your ticket to love on Valentine’s Day.

Physics students at Brigham Young University crafted this nifty god from carbon nanotubes that are 10,000 times smaller than a human hair.

They began by laying down microscopic iron “seeds” to form a Cupid pattern. When they applied a heated gas to the iron, the seeds sprouted into the desired shape.

Each nanotube is 99 percent air, and measures roughly 20 atoms across; the structure is very fragile.

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However, by coating the tubes in metals or other materials, they become more stable.

… [Read more]

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