Organic Gallery

Nanotube technology

Nanotube technology. Computer artwork of four cylindrical fullerenes (carbon nanotubes) of varying size, with the smaller ones nested inside the larger ones. A possible application of such a structure is to have the nanotubes telescope in and out and oscillate at a high frequency, forming a nanoscale radio transmitter. The hexagonal carbon structure of the nanotubes is shown here. Fullerenes are a structural form (allotrope) of carbon. Theoretically, a wide range of molecular shapes can be engineered at the molecular level using fullerenes. Such structures are being investigated for a wide range of technological and medical uses

© PASIEKA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Explosion of Sarin nerve gas molecules

Sarin nerve gas. Computer artwork of exploding molecules of the nerve gas Sarin (methylphosphonefluridic, (1-methyl ester, chemical formula (C4.H10.O2.P.F)). Sarin molecules are seen being scattered by an explosion (lower left). The atoms in the molecules are shown as spheres and are colour-coded: carbon (blue), oxygen (red), hydrogen (white), phosphorus (yellow), fluorine (green). The bonds between the atoms are shown as cylinders. Sarin (also known as GB) is used in chemical weapons. It is deadly and works in minutes. Skin contact or inhalation leads to disruption of the nervous system leading to convulsions, paralysis and death

© LAGUNA DESIGN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Cubane molecule

Cubane molecule. Computer model showing the structure of a molecule of cubane (C8H8). Atoms are represented as colour-coded spheres (carbon, grey; hydrogen, white) with the bonds between them as sticks. Cubane is a synthetic hydrocarbon that was only thought to be able to exist in theory until it was synthesised in 1964 at the University of Chicago. The 90 degree bonding angle of the carbon atoms in the molecule means they are highly strained. This along with it being the densest hydrocarbon enables it to store a large amount of energy, which could make it useful as a fuel or explosive

© LAGUNA DESIGN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY