IBM engineers create the world's smallest 3D world map

IBM engineers have stunned the world by creating a miniature world map in 3D thanks to nano technology. The nano world map, which is the size of 22 by 11 micrometers, has grabbed the Guinness World Record for being the smallest 3D map. The map is so small that you can fit 1,000 similar maps on just one grain of salt. The 3D map can be viewed using high-end microscopes only; so, it is a bit expensive, indeed.

The smallest 3D map

To your surprise, IBM scientists took only two minutes and 23 seconds to build this magical map. It has been written on a polymer and is made of 500,000 pixels. Each pixel measures 20 by 2 nanometers making the stuff more wonderful. The diminutive 3D map proves to be a good sign for innovations in nano-sized products. Certainly, with such stunning micro creations, nano technology is gaining importance.

The IBM engineers have made use of a nanoscale tip, which is 100,000 times tinier than a sharpened pencil’s tip, to realize this 15 nanometer structure. In fact, technologists were struggling to build products smaller than 30 nanometers before this ground-breaking small 3D map.

To create the 3D map, the scientists had to depend on an etching technique which was similar to the way Egyptians used to carve stones to create drawing and hieroglyphics. Yes, it is such a complicated job to build this amazingly smaller 3D map. According to analysts, the IBM nano world map will boost prospects of creating nano-sized electronics – ranging from optoelectronics, chip making, medicine to life sciences.

Via: SocialChaos/ Worldrecordsacademy