World’s Smallest Bowl of Ramen
30. May, 2008
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Having taken (and nearly failed) more chemistry courses than I would like to remember, I’m usually not particularly enthusiastic about molecular engineering. However, a recent news story caught my eye this morning. Apparently, Masayuki Nakao, a professor at Todai, has just debuted the smallest bowl of ramen known to man.
The bowl and noodles were constructed out of carbon nanotubes–tiny cylinders made of latticed carbon molecules–in Nakao’s lab in 2006, but were only unveiled today after being entered in a microphotography contest. Measuring a measly 1,016 nanometers (or 1/25,000 of an inch), the bowl is theoretically small enough for even some bacteria to use–the average E. coli being around 2,000 nanometers long–assuming they like the taste of graphite, that is. Maybe the addition of some carbon chāshū or menma would make it more enticing?
Anyway, here’s what the inventor had to say about his creation:
“We believe it’s the world’s smallest ramen bowl, with the smallest portion of noodles inside, though they are not edible,” Nakao said.
The hardest part was to keep the noodles from rising upright from the bowl “like alfalfa sprouts,” he said. “The achievement was mostly for fun.”
So, though Nakao probably won’t be winning a Nobel Prize for this feat, you have to admit, it’s pretty cool. In my mind, it’s right up there with the world’s smallest guitar, toilet, and smiley face. And, hey, if the price of wheat continues to rise, tiny bowls of ramen may become a lot more prevalent, hm?
More nanocoolness: Nanotechnology Now and the EIPBN Micrograph Contest
Source: The Honolulu Advertiser
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Three atoms in a row measures roughly 1 nm. Therefore, at 1,016 nm, it is around 339 atoms in width, assuming it is closed packed. Tiny :)
Haha, hopefully this post will bring out all of Tofugu’s closet science geeks. I was going to go on about the real-life applications of nanotubes, Buckyballs, and the like, but I didn’t want to bore people to death :D
mmm, buckyball flavored ramen
Ahhh, I heard about this on the radio this morning! Crazy.
I sure hope Masayuki Nakao is putting that knowledge and talent to better uses in something else though…the noodles aren’t even edible. :P
Oops.. I made tons of mistakes!! Haha WOW
If it is indeed 3 atoms per 1 nm, then it is 3048 atoms in width.. But even that is wrong. 1nm equals roughly 8 atoms, therefore approx. 8128 atoms in width.
jeeesh viet. That means this thing is HUGE. Like, 8128 atoms huge!
How would you know? You have a poor sense with numbers.
Here is a cool flash to get some sense of the relative sizes within our unit system
http://www.nikon.com/about/feelnikon/universcal...
Wow, another science break through. What will they think of next.
If you cant eat it… whats the use ><!
If you were actually able to eat it… how would you know you ate it? and how would you eat it?so… whos going to invent the smallest chop sticks eh? =P
Small ramen bowls would be really popular for people who need to maximize their living space…. like this lady…
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/japancrimeoffbeat
Oh, and let’s not forget that some Japanese dude is now marketing ramen in a can. I wonder how many of those “small” ramen bowls will fit in a can; anyone want to do the calculations? I know that I don’t….
Well, technically it should be edible. If it’s nothing but carbon, it wouldn’t be toxic. But anyway, you really wouldn’t want to eat it–it’s art!
WOW! That story is amazing! That’s freakin’ scary! It reminds of that movie, “the strangers” that’s coming out. Oh man, I remember I used to always check every room in the house when I came home alone years ago, just in case someone had tried to sneak in. It’s crazy though that she’s been in there for months! Crazy!
Also… hmmm… what can I say for this article?
Holy MOLEy!
Haha. Moles? Get it?
I really don’t like chemistry… :
We were going to do a post about it but never quite got around to it.
Crazy, right?
You get a point for that :P hahahah
Speaking of moles….
How many guacs are in a bowl of guacamole?
… AvoCADOS number.
Oh man.
That’s disgusting.
UGGHHH. That’s honestly the only way I remember that stupid constant.
Those jokes.. are worst than the IB jokes we make in our 6 people Ib music class.
IB thinkin’ I can’t Handel this. These jokes make me feel baroquen.
I’d like to know the budget for this project….
you saw my mathematical awesomeness in geometry….7-8 years ago? jebus, we’re old.
I just played with the Bunsen Burner
Seesmic video reply from Disqus.
That must have been awkward…finding some random lady living in your crawlspace. -shivers-
The tiny ramen bowl…..it is a novel idea, to say the least, but couldn’t he be putting his massive intelligence to better use? Like……….sending ramen into space.
Already been done! In this Tofugu article, I briefly mentioned ramen’s space debut, described more fully here.
Quibbler D:
Maybe “World’s Smallest Sculpture of a Bowl of Ramen” would be more accurate?
Psh space ramen. Sapporo is going to make space BEER!
I don’t much like the idea of drunk astronauts.
I’m sorry but, why is this important?? who’s gonna eat it?? WHAT IS THE POINT?!
L’art pour l’art.
Ah all those UW classes paying off… sort of…
That was to Viet’s comment on the atoms… yeah… uhh no idea why it popped it down here.
*see remark way down on the bottom of the page* I suck again…
どうしてあの方はあれをしましたか。
amazing
sounds good, small but good
very true gjb small but good
very true gjb small but good
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Three atoms in a row measures roughly 1 nm. Therefore, at 1,016 nm, it is around 339 atoms in width, assuming it is closed packed. Tiny :)
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The article's content rich variety which make us move nike basketball shoes for our mood after reading this article. surprise, here you will find what you want! Recently, I found some wedsites which commodity is colorful Elegance-is-Edgy-Dress.com of fashion. Such as xxxxxxxx that worth you to see. Believe me these websites won’t let you down.
Three atoms in a row measures roughly 1 nm. Therefore, at 1,016 nm, it is around 339 atoms in width, assuming it is closed packed. Tiny :)
I love using Aardvark!