tion sensitive enough to trigger pattern formation processes.” The resulting pattern in solid
state shows how carbonate salt with silica seed
crystals nucleate and grow. Explaining his discovery, Noorduin observed that “changes to the
environment impact the self-assembly process
that’s going on. Small changes in parameters
make enormous changes in the shapes.”
The nano-flower structures are half the width
of a human hair. Samples the size of a postage
stamp contain thousands and even up to millions of structures at the submicrometer level.
At this level, scientific visualization is an extremely powerful tool. In this nano-scale research, the key analysis method is electron microscopy. Noorduin explains, “The first thing I
do is put it in the electron microscope.” Going
further, Wim says, “It was really a struggle to
show people how complex these structures are.
I have learned a lot from James Weaver about
how to visualize parts of the sample. The first
time Weaver looked at viewed nano-flowers, he
felt like he was ‘diving in an ancient primordial
coral reef.’”
Leading-edge electron microscopist James
Weaver clarifies, “Visualizations like electron
micrographs are science, and art.” Noordin
adds, “There’s a lot of science behind the growing of these structures, but the cool thing is
the visual result. After the Science (cover, May
17, 2013) paper came out, because of the visual
attractiveness, we got attention from corners of
the world we were not used to. It felt very special that a completely different group of people
was interested in our research.” Enthused, Wim
says, “It’s so gratifying to do this research and
then have the research really connect with
people!”
damental to an education at MIT.” With the
CAST initiative launch in 2012, there is new
enthusiasm for MIT’s Visiting Artist Program. )5%P