IBM makes movie using atoms

Victor Barreiro Jr.

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Researchers spent 9 days taking 18-hour shifts to move atoms around for recording

FILMING ATOMS. IBM makes a stop-motion film using atoms. Screen shot from YouTube

MANILA, Philippines – Movie and theater actors perhaps know the old adage, “There are no small parts, only small actors.” That adage may not hold true anymore as a big role has been set up by IBM for a really small actor to play a part in.

On Tuesday, April 30, IBM put the world’s smallest stop-motion film on Youtube. The video, which lasts a little over 90 seconds, stars a number of atoms (technically thousands of carbon monoxide molecules) being moved in a stop-motion animated movie. Each frame was made at a temperature of negative 268 degrees Celsius, then magnified 100 million times using a scanning tunneling microscope.

The video itself stars the atoms portraying a boy having fun by bouncing around, playing catch, and dancing a little jig.


CNET adds that the team, comprised of principal investigator Andreas Heinrich and his colleagues, took 250 images. Four researchers in the team spent nine 18-hour days moving the atoms around for the animation. With some extra time, they also shot some Star Trek pictures at the atomic level for the Star Trek: Into Darkness app.

It’s an excellent little bit of science in action, and it should provide some insight into some of the fascinating thing scientists can do when they have the chance. – Rappler.com

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Victor Barreiro Jr.

Victor Barreiro Jr is part of Rappler's Central Desk. An avid patron of role-playing games and science fiction and fantasy shows, he also yearns to do good in the world, and hopes his work with Rappler helps to increase the good that's out there.