Unfolding the Carbon Cage

ByCarl Zimmer
September 08, 2008

Jessica writes:

I’m happy to send you my very own science tattoo — a buckyball net. I’ve always been fascinated by carbon and its presence on our planet — but I didn’t want to choose an ordinary representation of carbon for my…uh…lifetime ink commitment. Behold the carbon 60 molecule, which just happens to fit my idea and look ridiculously cool, especially when “unfolded.”  I initially wanted the design to be small and discreet, but my tattoo artist thought it was such a cool design that he insisted I get it bigger. I’m happy I took his advice.

Carl: For  images of buckyballs in their folded state–lovely molecular cages–see here.

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