• Question: What is the smallest thing you have taken a picture of?

    Asked by lalaman to Tim on 23 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Tim Stephens

      Tim Stephens answered on 23 Jun 2012:

      The smallest thing is about 1µm in diameter (1 millionth of a metre). To put this into context, the hair on your head is probably about 80µm diameter.
      It’s not possible see anything smaller than this with an imaging technique because 1µm is almost the wavelength of light, and it’s not possible to focus light into a spot smaller than its wavelength.

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