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These Are the Highest Resolution Photos Ever Taken of Snowflakes:
Photographer and scientist Nathan Myhrvold has developed a camera that captures snowflakes at a microscopic level never seen before.
The first chill of a winter storm is enough to send most people indoors, but not Nathan Myhrvold. The colder the weather, the better his chances are of capturing a microscopic photograph of a snowflake. Now, nearly two years in the making, Myhrvold has developed what he bills as the "highest resolution snowflake camera in the world." Recently, he released a series of images taken using his creation, a prototype that captures snowflakes at a microscopic level never seen before.
Myhrvold, who holds a PhD in theoretical mathematics and physics from Princeton University and served as the Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft for 14 years, leaned on his background as a scientist to create the camera. He also tapped into his experience as a photographer, most notably as the founder of Modernist Cuisine, a food innovation lab known for its high-resolution photographs of various food stuffs published into a five-volume book of photography of the same name that focuses on the art and science of cooking. Myhrvold first got the idea to photograph snowflakes 15 years ago after meeting Kenneth Libbrecht, a California Institute of Technology professor who happened to be studying the physics of snowflakes.
"In the back of my mind, I thought I'd really like to take snowflake pictures," Myhrvold says. "About two years ago, I thought it was a good time and decided to put together a state-of-the-art snowflake photography system...but it was a lot harder than I thought."
[...] In simple terms, the system Myhrvold developed is comprised of one part microscope and one part camera, but with a number of parts that work in tandem to complete the arduous task of capturing an image of a snowflake, a subject that's not only miniscule (most snowflakes measure less than a half-inch in diameter) but also quick to melt. In fact, a snowflake's tendency to disintegrate was one of the biggest challenges Myhrvold had to overcome with this project. His solution: equipping his 50-pound camera system with a thermoelectric cooling system, a carbon fiber frame and LED lights, which give off less heat than standard lights. Every single part of his Frankenstein-esque device, which stands at about five feet in height off the ground when placed on a table, was built using materials that are less likely to cause melting or sublimation of the subject matter.
"Light could melt the snowflake, so I found a company in Japan that makes LED lights for industrial purposes," he says. "My camera's flash is one-millionth of a second and a thousand times faster than that of a typical camera flash."
[...] Prints of Myhrvold's snowflake photography are available at the Modernist Cuisine Gallery.
Also at Daily Mail for images.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 03 2021, @09:52PM (3 children)
For a moment there I though this was an advertisement for the latest iPhone cameras :P
(Score: 4, Funny) by DannyB on Wednesday February 03 2021, @09:57PM (2 children)
If these snowflake photos were taken without consent in a safe space, can the snowflakes seek relief from the Snowflake Grievance Committee?
Would a Dyson sphere [soylentnews.org] actually work?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 03 2021, @10:26PM (1 child)
Snowflakes can seek whatever they want, whether the committee will agree and award damages is the question.
(Score: 3, Touché) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday February 04 2021, @03:00AM
With a name like Grievance Committee, it's a pretty safe bet.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 03 2021, @10:33PM (7 children)
Pfff.... not a maga-hatter to be seen. Nor any republicans for that matter.
(Score: 3, Touché) by c0lo on Wednesday February 03 2021, @10:37PM
Deplorable snowflakes are panicking tho [twimg.com]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: -1, Troll) by knarf on Wednesday February 03 2021, @10:48PM (3 children)
Wrong species, snowflakes tend to be left-leaning and congregate in "academic" settings. While they certainly are annoying they're not really dangerous nor are they hard to find - in fact you can get them to come to you simply by, say, reading a piece of literature or singing a Christmas song. Before you know it they'll be flocking around you, twittering their obnoxious repetitive "songs".
(Score: 5, Touché) by Tork on Thursday February 04 2021, @01:28AM (1 child)
Apparently you missed the fucking blizzard in D.C. last month.
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by knarf on Thursday February 04 2021, @11:29PM
Ah, but that was *weather* while I was talking about the climate which produces snowflakes. Just like the snow in the Sahara desert this winter does not make it the norm, nor does the mess at the Capitol not make that the norm. Even more important though I would not call those who partook in the Capitol riots "snowflakes". Some of them were nutters, some were militia types, some were professional rioters but snowflakes? No, not that. Had they been snowflakes they'd have been out on the 'net, complaining about the way they were being treated by those mean police officers and those nasty "news" people and whatnot. They'd have claimed victimhood. As far as I know there have been no such claims, no such complaints? That makes them non-snowflakes.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 04 2021, @02:30AM
Heh, you obviously pay no attention to who gets most outraged at nonsense bullshit. Do you not-see reality?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 03 2021, @11:47PM (1 child)
No, it is a very small snowflake, highly magnificent, but it's there: a vocal minority that is running away, so the photo is blurry.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 04 2021, @06:14AM
Hey! I can see Uranus in this picture!
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday February 03 2021, @11:17PM (23 children)
So far not a single comment (mine included) related to the real story.
The S/N people are letting their marbles loose.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 03 2021, @11:52PM (3 children)
Well, how about a parallel thread about patent trolls, since Nathan Myhrvold's Intellectual Ventures practically invented that class of jerks-who-will-be-first-against-the-wall when the revolution comes...
He's made so much money at MS and then IV that now he can spend his time photographing snow.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 04 2021, @03:32AM
Wasn't Myhrvold the guy that was charged with poaching in Montana, driving off-road in his Hummervee and shooting from a vehicle at Pronghorns without a license? Typical out-of-state Rebuplican voting rich guy, like Maryland Matt and Gov. Giantfortune. Montana has no use for Software Developers or Real Estate mongols.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Thursday February 04 2021, @03:58AM
Ummm, no. Most around here think Star Trek would be considered 'prior art' if a working warp drive was patented. 🙄 We'd have a more intellectual discussion about the Babylon 5 / Lexx crossover fan-fic.
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Thursday February 04 2021, @12:27PM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 03 2021, @11:53PM
Did you find mine?
(Score: 2) by bart9h on Thursday February 04 2021, @01:29AM (8 children)
Sometimes we find a subject interesting, but have nothing to contribute on the matter.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday February 04 2021, @01:49AM (3 children)
Yes, I can understand the excuse, I used it [soylentnews.org] as a rationalization too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday February 04 2021, @03:03AM (2 children)
"Cool" as the entire body of a comment would either get modded Redundant or Funny, depending on your sense of humor. And only the first time someone said it.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 04 2021, @06:06AM (1 child)
"Cool", coincidently, is the favorite expletive of the said Nathan Myhrvold. How would TMB know that? Oh, no! Say it isn't so, Buzzard! Say it ain't so!!
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday February 04 2021, @02:24PM
Poor dig. I'd have a slightly nicer (but not bigger) boat if I had Microsoft money.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 04 2021, @06:58AM (3 children)
If people have nothing to contribute they should shut up and stop adding to the noise.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday February 04 2021, @02:25PM (2 children)
Lots of science stories would be entirely without comment then, even the ones people find interesting.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 07 2021, @04:13AM (1 child)
There's no need for Beavis and Butthead comments on science stories.
If for whatever reason the site wants/needs better stats on how popular/interesting a story is, add a way to rate/upvote/downvote a story.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday February 07 2021, @03:35PM
Unfortunately a lot of us don't agree, thus the +1 Funny mod. If you have issue with it, feel free to log in and make use of the -1 Offtopic or -1 Redundant mods, as you feel appropriate.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Thursday February 04 2021, @01:33AM (3 children)
Okay could everybody get serious for a moment? That guy that says "(grin)" every other post wants everybody's marbles returned to their sacks.
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday February 04 2021, @01:47AM (2 children)
No matter who says it, do you think is wrong to have you marbles back in your sack?
---
(large grin - sorry, let's backtrack a step: are you still able to think?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 2) by Tork on Thursday February 04 2021, @02:35AM (1 child)
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday February 04 2021, @03:37AM
Kek.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 1) by NPC-131072 on Thursday February 04 2021, @01:35AM (1 child)
I think they're very pretty.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday February 04 2021, @02:06AM
What? The memes, the loose marbles or both?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 04 2021, @02:32AM
The lame sensitive people jokes occurred to me as well, but I decided not to. Then I start reading the comments and yup, of course they did.
In Soviet Russia snowflake take picture of you! -O--O-
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 04 2021, @06:56AM (1 child)
Well that's because most soylentils are trolls and low brow idiots.
Anyway from the article:
Maybe if he figures out how to do so he should try to get photos of the northwest and east coast snowflakes too to see if there are any interesting differences.
Otherwise it could be like not taking photos of Africans and Asians when photographing humans because it's inconvenient... ;)
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday February 04 2021, @02:26PM
LCD humor wouldn't be LCD humor unless most people found it funny.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 3, Funny) by looorg on Thursday February 04 2021, @01:52AM (4 children)
If I want to see snow all I have to do is look out the window. That said it does lack the zoom and resolution, I need some bionic eyes or something.
(Score: 3, Touché) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday February 04 2021, @03:04AM (3 children)
Or someone to pelt you in the eye with a snowball.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 04 2021, @06:03AM (2 children)
zoom mode : move head closer to object.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 04 2021, @06:08AM
AI learning algorithum modified protocol: Do not look into laser with remaining eye, or Photosensitive sensor.
(Score: 3, Funny) by lentilla on Thursday February 04 2021, @11:39AM
"Zoom mode": obligatory Red Dwarf [youtu.be].
(Score: 3, Interesting) by shortscreen on Thursday February 04 2021, @09:00AM
The bottom specimen in this pic https://public-media.si-cdn.com/filer/06/fe/06fe3478-ae96-4d25-9f9b-f015388ab3f5/no-two-alike.jpg [si-cdn.com] looks like it has a three-player variant of space invaders going on inside it.
It would be interesting to try algorithmically generating images with this level of detail. Would have to beat these generators first ;)
https://mathgrrl.com/hacktastic/2018/11/the-snowflake-machine-2/ [mathgrrl.com]
http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=85794 [pouet.net]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 04 2021, @01:34PM
I hope the snowflakes gave permission before they were photographed
While they will video and snapshot anything and everything they can be touchy about the same being done to them