They say that no two snowflakes are alike. But all of them share one thing: They are beautiful at any level of magnification. The Electron and Confocal Microscopy Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, showcases tons of stunning EM images of snowflakes and snow crystals on their website. I have selected a few of my favourites, but their gallery is worth a visit or two.
How wide was the smallest Christmas card you ever got? Maybe 5 – 10 cm? Or even less? Captured by the Beltsville Electron Microscopy Unit, part of the USDA. Sixty Symbols has produced this fantastic video in which they document how to create what must be one of the tiniest Christmas card you can imagine – a snow crystal! Using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a focussed ion beam they manage to write their Christmas greetings on the surface of a facette with a width of 50 micrometer. That is the width of a hair! Absolutely amazing!
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