Sem Memes

Posts tagged with Sem

World's Smallest Snowman: Nano-Frosty Takes The Scientific Stage

World's Smallest Snowman: Nano-Frosty Takes The Scientific Stage
Scientists have officially gone subatomic with their winter festivities! What you're looking at is a nanoscale snowman created using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) - those aren't snowballs, they're actually tiny platinum nanoparticles stacked and manipulated with incredible precision. The scale bar shows 200 nanometers, meaning this frosty fellow is about 1/500th the width of a human hair! The arms are likely carbon nanotubes or nanowires carefully positioned to complete the classic snowman look. Researchers probably spent hours on this instead of publishing their actual research paper. Priorities, people! The perfect combination of "I have access to millions of dollars of equipment" and "let me make a tiny snowman with it."

Hit With A Tough Question When The SEM Had An Error

Hit With A Tough Question When The SEM Had An Error
Nothing quite captures the existential dread of research like a SEM asking if you're "O.K." while warning of impending data delays. No, machine, I am not O.K. I've been waiting three weeks for microscope time, my advisor needs results yesterday, and now you're philosophically questioning my mental state? The true scientific method: click "Yes" while internally screaming "No" on every level. Nothing says "modern research" like having an emotional breakdown in front of expensive equipment that's showing more concern for your wellbeing than your PI has in years.