Thinnest Piece of Glass is practically two dimensional: only 2 atoms thick - Polidicks

[quote]At just a molecule thick, it’s a new record: The world’s thinnest sheet of glass, a serendipitous discovery by scientists at Cornell and Germany’s University of Ulm, is recorded for posterity in the Guinness Book of World Records. The “pane” of glass, so impossibly thin that its individual silicon and oxygen atoms are clearly visible via electron microscopy, was identified in the lab of David A. Muller, professor of applied and engineering physics and director of the Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science.[/quote] [url=http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2013/09/shattering-records-thinnest-glass-guinness-book]Source[/url] [img]http://www.news.cornell.edu/sites/chronicle.cornell/files/glass9-12.jpg[/img] Holy shit, you gotta love accidental discoveries like this.

so if someone took a bi-atom or bi-molecular piece of anything and threw it at your face, would nothing happen?

theoretically if the pane was large enough length and width wise, what would such a thin pane actually look like?

Try [I]shattering[/I] THAT world record!

It'd probably shatter if you breathed on it

[QUOTE=Saza;42172040]theoretically if the pane was large enough length and width wise, what would such a thin pane actually look like?[/QUOTE] A really thin pane of glass if it kept its optical properties (reflectance).

It's going to be used in the next iPhone so it shatters even quicker than before

Do they have any pictures of the pane?

Imagine how sharp that is... it's a thin blade 2 atoms thick. Sure, it may break, but if hit at the right angle...

Now windows are made of fifty layers, rather than the conventional two or three.

[QUOTE=Magmacow358;42172068]It'd probably shatter if you breathed on it[/QUOTE] The tiny shift in the room's airflow will break it.

Atoms are still three dimensional objects, so not really. Still cool though they got it down to this size already.

[QUOTE=ForgottenKane;42172282]Atoms are still three dimensional objects, so not really. Still cool though they got it down to this size already.[/QUOTE] But can you see the dimensions of a single atom with your naked eyes?

even if it was unbreakable it would still not do anything to your hand if it sliced through it, considering it's so small it practically passes through organic tissue like it's a medium (a piece of thin paper travelling through air, water etc)

[QUOTE=Saza;42172040]theoretically if the pane was large enough length and width wise, what would such a thin pane actually look like?[/QUOTE] From the sides, it would probably look like just a very, very clear piece of glass. But edge-on it would be essentially invisible, unless something weird is going on (which it very well could be).

[QUOTE=Alec W;42172294]But can you see the dimensions of a single atom with your naked eyes?[/QUOTE] Can you see the dimensions of a million atoms with your naked eyes?

[QUOTE=Alec W;42172294]But can you see the dimensions of a single atom with your naked eyes?[/QUOTE] Paper is now 2D

Reminds me of the Scorpion from Unreal Tournament 2004, the vehicle with the 1-atom thick retractable side blades.

[QUOTE=ForgottenKane;42172282]Atoms are still three dimensional objects, so not really. Still cool though they got it down to this size already.[/QUOTE] You should learn the meaning of the qualifier "practically"

[QUOTE=Dark-Energy;42172335]even if it was unbreakable it would still not do anything to your hand if it sliced through it, considering it's so small it practically passes through organic tissue like it's a medium (a piece of thin paper travelling through air, water etc)[/QUOTE] So, are you saying that if I were to somehow make a blade like that, my slicing wouldn't interrupt molecular connections? That doesn't seem right, especially if I kinda just leave the blade inside the guy.

[QUOTE=Smas;42172778]So, are you saying that if I were to somehow make a blade like that, my slicing wouldn't interrupt molecular connections? That doesn't seem right, especially if I kinda just leave the blade inside the guy.[/QUOTE] It wouldn't. It would break upon impact, hell it would probably break before impact. A sharp object still meets resistance regardless of how sharp it is.

[QUOTE=Cakebatyr;42172083]A really thin pane of glass if it kept its optical properties (reflectance).[/QUOTE] ..which it wouldn't

I was referring to what the guy said in his quote when he stated that even if it was unbreakable, that it would still do nothing. I'd think that having something that thin and impossible to break could lead to some serious damage.

so, they have a piece of glass two atoms thick you can't see it, touch it, feel it, or sense it in any way or it'll [I]SNAP LIKE A DRY LEAF[/I] ain't that convenient also it's just ALMOST two dimensional of course, an actual 2D object even existing would pretty much break reality

[QUOTE=Alec W;42172294]But can you see the dimensions of a single atom with your naked eyes?[/QUOTE] Yes. Whether or not you can distinguish them from the other atoms is up for debate, though.

Now they can make phones even thinner!

So what kind of properties does an atom thick layer of glass bring to the table?

[QUOTE=Schmaaa;42172976]so, they have a piece of glass two atoms thick you can't see it, touch it, feel it, or sense it in any way or it'll [I]SNAP LIKE A DRY LEAF[/I] ain't that convenient[/QUOTE] Oh cool it's another one of these posts I love reading them in every single scientific discovery thread ever. All the posts, with none of the contribution to the thread. It's like I'm reading nothing at all.

If they folded and layered it, would it be stronger than glass that was processed the usual way?

[QUOTE=Daemon White;42173023]If they folded and layered it, would it be stronger than glass that was processed the usual way?[/QUOTE] It seems to me like it would be just like normal glass.