Zoom into Aluminium

September 27, 2008 11:39 AM

Accomplished by seamlessly blending images captured with different photo and microscopy techniques – and some deal of illustration – delve deep into the matter, from the hair above to concrete, steel and more in the Weird, Weird Science Channel. Via forgetomori
posted by Tube (7 comments total)

I love this type of thing - I still watch the brilliant Philip Morrison-narrrated Powers of Ten routinely - but I have a few complaints.

- Carbon's primary utility in steel is to increase strength by straining the lattice, not to increase corrosion resistance.
- Tempering is more than a rapid cooling (which is called quenching and actually produces a low-strength, brittle material), it also includes a reheating step that softens the steel and restores strength.
- Describing the atomic structure of an amorphous material (cement) as "chaos" is a poor word choice for a scientific video.
- Is polyethylene really pronounced "polythene" in the UK?
- Why the background wind noise? Is the SEM room that cavernous?

But these are minor issues; otherwise the videos are great.
posted by Mapes at 12:59 PM on September 27, 2008 [1 favorite]

Carbon's primary utility in steel is to increase strength by straining the lattice, not to increase corrosion resistance.

Yeah, when I heard that it was a bit cringe-inducing...

When you start looking at the percentages of metals like chromium and nickle in certain stainless steels, it's amazing how much they can pack in.
posted by Tube at 1:38 PM on September 27, 2008

Glad to see these are still floating around.
posted by gwint at 1:39 PM on September 27, 2008

The Weird, Weird Science Channel link goes to a page with a few of these videos, plus one of "lesbians wrestling!". When I try to see this I'm asked to register, so can anyone confirm that this video does indeed feature lesbians wrestling under a microscope, and that it's not some common-or-garden porn thing of which I have seen dozens?

Cos I really like the microscope vids.
posted by cincinnatus c at 1:55 PM on September 27, 2008

so wait, there's stuff inside of other stuff?
nature is so creepy.
posted by sexyrobot at 5:54 PM on September 27, 2008

so wait, there's stuff inside of other stuff?

Are we still talking about concrete, or is this about the lesbian wrestling video?
posted by sebastienbailard at 7:27 PM on September 27, 2008

I still watch the brilliant Philip Morrison-narrrated Powers of Ten routinely

I agree that Powers of Ten is a great little film. But Powers of One... boring as hell; nothing changes. Avoid it.
posted by twoleftfeet at 8:21 PM on September 27, 2008