It may resemble a sea anemone, but this spiky little devil is a clump of silicon nanocones only a few micrometers tall and 1/50,000 the width of a
human hair. The cones were grown by Jennifer Atchison, a graduate student in materials science at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
using a twist on a technique known as chemical vapor deposition. And this color-enhanced electron microscope image of them has won Atchison first prize
in the inaugural photo contest of Chemical & Engineering News, which is published by the American Chemical Society. For besting the 250
other entrants, Atchison says she won "$250 and bragging rights." Runners-up can be seen
at the magazine's web site.
See more ScienceShots.
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