Along with an innumberable amount of college students, I’ve been known to enjoy a nice bowl of sodium-engorged instant noodles and conquered every flavor foil packet on this side of the Maruchan.
So, it comes as no surprise that the idea of Japanese scientists creating a microscropic Ramen noodle bowl would make my kidneys twitch. Or, maybe that’s just the Beef Flavor.
But, much to my disappointment, it’s not edible. Why? Because it’s made out of carbon nanotubes that are about 10,000 times smaller than a human hair and only viewable by a microscope. Damn it.
The photo wasn’t available to the public until today, but was originally shot in 2006
Mechanical engineering professor Masayuki Nakao said Thursday he and his students at the University of Tokyo used a carbon-based material to produce a noodle bowl with a diameter 1/25,000 of an inch in a project aimed at developing nanotube-processing technology.
Discovered in 1991, these carbon nanotubes have been widely researched:
Carbon nanotubes are being explored for a wide range of uses in electronics and medicine because their structure endows them with powerful physical properties such as a strength greater than steel.
The professor then went on to add:
The hardest part was to keep the noodles from rising upright from the bowl “like alfalfa sprouts,” he said.
There you have it. Like alfalfa sprouts. Thanks, prof.
Although the feat was mostly for fun and bragging rights (they’ll be raking in the numbers at the bar), you can rest assured now that you’ve witnessed the world’s current reigning champion.
May 29th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
What the… How am I supposed to eat it then? Why make ramen that is not edible? Why torture me? *runs off crying*
May 29th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Why make ramen smaller when what we need is MOAR ramen?
May 29th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
That’s what I’m sayin’! >_<
May 30th, 2008 at 12:02 am
I bet the Incredible Shrinking man could eat that by now.
May 30th, 2008 at 7:14 am
WTF?
May 30th, 2008 at 10:43 am
umm you’ll be hungry within 1 sec!
May 30th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
UGH! I agree with everyone! Why tempt us? Why bother if we can’t have a little bite, a tiny morsel!
Next thing they’re gonna invent is a shrinking ray just so we CAN see it with our own eyes! That would be sweet ass sweet actually!
May 30th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
LOL at Traycee.
June 1st, 2008 at 8:07 am
The japs have far too much time on their hands.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:24 am
People who “seemed” like they had a lot of time on their hands:
-Beethoven
-Einstein
-Edison
-Da vinci
-Michelangelo
-Marconi
-Keller
Just so you know… the Japanese are one of the leaders in technological advancement… no matter how silly you think their projects are. Also, please don’t say “Jap” … that is so incredibly rude.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:19 am
Actually all those people seemed kinda busy, except Einstein he was a lazy son of a bitch.
And you are right the Japanese are always on the cutting edge of technology. I’ve never been to a country with such advanced toilets and robots. Ever sat on a robot toilet? It is incedible, it dries your ass for you!
And the term Japs, is just a short form for Japanese, the world and it’s context isn’t meant to be rude or racial unless you make it that way.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:19 am
Please don’t take this the wrong way, but are you Japanese? If you are then I’ll say that you’re tolerant for using that term.
I have a lot of Japanese friends who always tell me that they don’t feel comfortable with that word… that it’s wrong. It’s cool if you didn’t know… so I thought I should let you know.
… and yes, those robot toilets are sweet.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:23 am
I think the term has some bad rap because of it’s use during WWII, but it kind of faded out over the past 50 years. Maybe it just depends on the area.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:32 am
Yeah, I think it definitely depends on the area. If one said it in Los Angeles or Japan, one would upset a lot of people.
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 am
No i’m not japanese but i like sushi, therefore i’m qualified to speak on all japanese matters.
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:00 am
Oh, ok… at first I thought you might not have known what you were saying… now it’s all about sarcasm.
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I’m glad you finally caught on
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Now now let’s not bring sushi into this.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Hey now kiddies. Listen to wise woman Clare. No need to bring sushi into this. Feel what you feel, just leave one of my fave dishes out of it.