The Sharpest Object Ever Made

ultracool writes "Forget the phrase 'sharp as a tack.' Now, thanks to new University of Alberta research, the popular expression might become, 'sharp as a single atom tip formed by chemically assisted spatially controlled field evaporation.' Maybe it doesn't roll off the tongue as easily, but considering the researchers have created the sharpest object ever made, it would be accurate."

The birth of a new acronym:

[dubmun]

single atom tip formed by chemically assisted spatially controlled field evaporation: SATFBCASCFE. Sharp as a SATFBCASCFE... hmmm maybe not.

Nitrogen?

[m_chan]

"they were able to coat peripheral atoms near the peak with nitrogen"

Nitrogen?? That chunk who wears a dress-size seven? She sneezes crisco. Sharp? Yeah, like a marble. Wake me up when we get to Kate Moss waif-like Hydrogen. Then I can carve my initials on tubby Boron.

Too complicated

[AKAImBatman]

Forget the phrase 'sharp as a tack.' Now, thanks to new University of Alberta research, the popular expression might become, 'sharp as a single atom tip formed by chemically assisted spatially controlled field evaporation.

How about, "sharper than a tack?"

Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Still not as sharp as...

[MikeB0Lton]

...Chuck Norris

Sharp?

[tygerstripes]

I won't be impressed until they split the atom. Now THAT will be a shiny pin.

Re:Get dull?

[Golias]

Well over time knives get dull from use. unless I'm mistaken, this one atom could easily break off, right? Wouldn't it be instantly dull?

As long as it is only used to poke really soft, non-abrasive things, you should be good to go.

Of course, some nay-sayers might ask why you would ever need The Sharpest Object Ever Made to poke holes in chocolate pudding, but who needs that kind of negativity?

Re:The birth of a new acronym:

[dubmun]

pronounced KASK-feht? I like it!

You are sharp as a CASCFET!

Re:rubbish

[a_nonamiss]

these people have never seen my dick.

The end of your dick is as tiny as a nitrogen atom? That's hardly something to brag about...

Time to upgrade my

[BigGar']

rapier like wit, to "sharp as a single atom tip formed by chemically assisted spatially controlled field evaporation" like wit.

Cyberpunk weapons

[cHALiTO]

Cool! now I can get myself a monokatana!!

Bread

[certel]

Does it still squish the bread?!

Pardon me but,

[ericspinder]

I didn't think that anyone believed that a tack was the 'sharpest', needles are well know to be very sharp as well. Personally, I think the phrase that I will be forgetting is "sharp as a single atom tip formed by chemically assisted spatially controlled field evaporation.", as no other items will be as sharp as it, and I'd have few uses for it.

I know the submitter is tring to be whitty, but I'd have to use 'sharp as a bowling ball' to describe his attempt. Surely there must have been a better way of announcing this break-through, like "Do you want you pastrami cut thin!".

According to Mick Dundee...

[teknopagan]

That's not a knife...

Picture!

[the_mind_]

Here is a picture.
5M x amplification

        .

Second sharpest object catching up quickly

[Anonymous Coward]

The second sharpest object, Ann Coulter's cheek bones, seems to be getting more and more honed by the week. Those University of Alberta researchers better work quickly to keep the lead.

Re:The birth of a new acronym:

[Anonymous Coward]

or...

"Single Tip of Atom By Field (Assisted & Controlled) Evaporation)

STABFACE

Super thin.

[Soygen]

It's the greatest thing since atomically-thin sliced bread.

Re:The birth of a new acronym:

[955301]

How about

SCAT-CAFE

Spacially Controlled Atom Tip by Chemically Assisted Field Evaporation.

I think it might dooo fine so long as nobody digs up the meaning of scat.

But...

[NickeB]

Can it cut through armor and still slice a tomato?

Oblig -

[caffeinatedOnline]

I for one welcome our new chemically assisted spatially controlled field evaporated tip overlords... hmmm... that doesn't roll off the tongue well, now does it?

Um, Yeah, That's Funny...

[Doomedsnowball]

From TFA: These sharp tips are needed for making contact with metals or semiconductors as well as for the manipulation and examination of atoms, molecules and small particles. Ultrafine tips are demanded for future experiments where the results are directly dependent on shape of the tip.

This is HUGE news in the nano scanning tunnel microscope world! Combined with the ability to determine an electrons spin, this could really open up new research results in a lot of fields. Good to see so many comedians on /. Lotta sharp wits.

Sharper than my +5 Vorpal Sword?

[elrous0]

Sure, this tip is sharp. But keep in mind that it's NOT made of silver. It won't do JACK against the undead.

-Eric

Re:The birth of a new acronym:

[Shadow Wrought]

SCAT-CAFE

That plus it adds the punchline to, "Where do dung-beatles go for a light meal?"

Re:Oblig -

[Martin Blank]

No, but it does sound more terrifying. Big words scare people.

or how about...

[WheresMyDingo]

"sharp as SOAP" where SOAP is Sharpest Object At Present. Then even if something sharper comes along, you don't have to change your phrase, because it is so highly abstracted from the hardware that it hardly means anything anymore.

Re:Still not as sharp as...

[NetDanzr]

I don't know what's more funny: the fact that this comment appears modded as "Insightful", the fact that 30% Funny, 30% Overrated and 20% Troll combine for an "Insightful" rating, or the fact that the three moderation categories don't add to 100%.

I hope it's guarded well

[Anne_Nonymous]

The dullest object ever made is being kept safe in the Oval Office.

Re:Pardon me but,

[hardburn]

If by 'witty' you mean "copy-and-pasted first paragraph of the article", then yes, the submitter is witty.

Re:Get dull?

[hardburn]

Do they thrown in a russian nuke in a motorcycle side seat with those glass knives?

Re:Sharper than my +5 Vorpal Sword?

[Sinbios]

Why the HELL is this modded Insightful.

Re:The birth of a new acronym:

[fotoflojoe]

single atom tip formed by chemically assisted spatially controlled field evaporation: SATFBCASCFE. Sharp as a SATFBCASCFE... hmmm maybe not.

"Well, he's not the sharpest SATFBCASCFE in the drawer."
Oh, wait...

Not sharp enough!

[RichDiesal]

It won't be sharp enough until I can swing the knife in midair, splitting atoms along the way, with a ripple of nuclear fusion in my wake.

Mad scientists of the world (and Canada), unite to make my dreams come true!!!

Re:Sharper than my +5 Vorpal Sword?

[NotQuiteReal]

Why the hell was THAT modded Insightful?

OT: related question

[NotQuiteReal]

What's the dullest object ever made?

Re:The birth of a new acronym:

[Anonymous Coward]

Single Atom Tip by Field Evaporation, Controlling Everything Spatially

For everyone else, it'll be known as "SAT by FECES"

Re:OT: related question

[geekoid]

*Looks toward white house*...naw, too damn easy.

Re:Get dull?

[mranchovy]

Naw. Since the bonds holding the atom in place are stronger than, say, the bonds holding the skin of a tomato together, the tip would slide in and through the tomato skin almost as if it weren't there.

...cuts tomato slices so thin you can almost see through them! NOW how much would you pay? But wait, there's more!

Re:Pardon me but,

[Anonymous Coward]

who cuts pastrami with a needle?

True. How about "Junkies rejoice, new sharper needle may reduce track marks."

Re:Sharper than my +5 Vorpal Sword?

[Anonymous Coward]

Interviewer: Is it true that vampires like yourself can be killed with a simple wooden stake?
Vampire: A wooden stake in the heart kills regular folks too, you know.

Re:Sharper than my +5 Vorpal Sword?

[CthulhuDreamer]

I remember when Vorpal Swords were stuck at +3. Dang kids and their new toys...

Re:OT: related question

[Anonymous Coward]

What's the dullest object ever made?

Depends on who you ask.

Ask a girl, she'll say "someone who reads Slashdot."

Ask a slashdot user? You'll get "Slashdot editors."

An editor will tell you, "Life outside Slashdot."