Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has collaborated with Australian scientists to create the world's smallest moustache, measuring just five microns, using a peculiar ingredient: a red blood cell.
The Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication (MCN) at the Australian National Fabrication Facility and the Ramaciotti Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy at Monash University joined forces for this microscopic feat, Scimex reported.
The Tiny 'Mo' Moustache
The tiny "Mo" was designed to support Movember, a global men's health charity, and draw attention to the crucial role of blood donation in men's health.
After Lifeblood collected a red blood cell from a volunteer donor in Melbourne, the MCN team used a remarkable instrument called a FIB-SEM to capture the image of the minuscule moustache.
The FIB-SEM can image structures as small as 1/10,000th of the width of a human hair, using high-energy beams of metal ions to etch and deposit tiny structures, as explained by Bernie Orelup, Engineering & Operations Manager at the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication.
Explaining the procedure, Orelup compared it to assembling a miniature "Mr. Potato Head" accessory. The team carefully fashioned the minuscule moustache by applying layers of 3D-printed polymer resin to a tiny stalk, then gently affixing it to a single red blood cell using a micro manipulator.
The sophisticated nanofabrication techniques enabled the creation of a symbol supporting men's health, unseen by the naked eye yet conveying a potent message.
Prior to the microscopic examination, the single red blood cell underwent a process of fixation onto a gold-coated slide and received a coating of metal approximately 15 nanometers thick. Throughout November, Lifeblood is partnering with Movember to promote men's health and encourage blood or plasma donations.
Alison Gould, a spokesperson for Lifeblood, highlighted that many leading causes of illness for men, such as heart disease, lung and throat cancers, and blood clots, often require billions of blood cells during treatment.
She emphasized that blood donation is not only a way to help others but also an opportunity to learn about one's own health.
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Small in Size, Big in Impact
The microscopic moustache, though small in size, aims to make a big impact by inspiring individuals to contribute to men's health through blood donation.
Donors in November will receive a limited-edition Movember-designed bandage. Bernie Orelup expressed how this project merged their nanofabrication expertise with a noble cause.
The small moustache serves as a testament to the importance of advanced scientific tools in unraveling mysteries on a miniature scale.
"The focused ion-beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) was our key to unlocking the secrets of this tiny 'Mo.' It allowed us to reveal a world that is usually hidden from view, emphasizing the importance of advanced scientific tools in unravelling mysteries on a miniature scale," Orelup said in a statement.
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