Uge Treske and his low-cost STM!

Uwe Treske, 18, a senior from Paul Gerhardt Gymnasium in Grafenhainichen, Sachsen Anhalt, Germany, developed an inexpensive but powerful microscope that delivers a 1,000-fold improvement in resolution over normal light microscopes. His physics project is titled "Low-Cost Scanning Tunneling Microscope." Treske was inspired when he saw a German television show about the Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM),an important tool in nanotechnology. "It fascinated me-the idea that you could achieve atomic resolution. I wanted to see an atom for
myself. Of course, STM are very expensive. I decided to try to make a cheaper version so that any student could work with this tool." Treske based his invention on the principles of the STM, but used inexpensive materials that he acquired in his community of 8,000. For example, he used tungsten filament from ordinary light bulbs to make the fine spike tip for his microscope, recycled styrofoam blocks for building materials, and the standard sound card from a personal
computer for digitizing the measuring signal. Where did his inventiveness come from? "My science career began with my grandfather. He repaired television sets, and I helped him. That taught me about chips and circuit boards," Treske said. "I've learned that you can do scientific research anywhere, with whatever resources are available to you."