The self-destruction of the comet ISON captured the public imagination last week, as it passed between our planet and the sun. The mystery of outer space has enthralled humanity for centuries. Now, Michigan State University is taking a giant leap into inner space.A team of researchers is developing a new type of microscope that can watch atoms and molecules discharging energy at nearly incomprehensible speeds. It’s one more step into the world of nanotechnology. Scientists like MSU's Chong-Yu Ruan are peering into the atomic structures of known materials to find new properties and new applications for everyday life.
Current State’s Kevin Lavery visited an MSU laboratory recently on a quest to find an elusive measurement of time: the femtosecond.