Scientists Invent World's Thinnest Spaghetti, 200 Times Thinner than Human Hair

London, UK - In a breakthrough in materials science, researchers at the University College London (UCL) have created the world's thinnest spaghetti, measuring approximately 372 nanometres in diameter - a staggering 200 times thinner than a human hair.

The scientists smashed the previous record for the thinnest pasta by an astonishing thousand times after successfully using a technique called electrospinning to create extremely fine strands of pasta, dubbed "nanofibres", from flour and formic acid. The resulting spaghetti is so thin that it cannot be clearly captured by visible light cameras or microscopes.

To achieve this achievement, the team employed a scanning electron microscope to scan the nanofibre-covered surface with a focused beam of electrons, creating an image based on the pattern of deflected electrons.

However, despite its remarkable width, the 'near-invisible' spaghetti has limited utility as a food, as it would overcook in under a second. This is where its potential for medical applications comes into play.

According to scientists Dr. Adam Clancy and Professor Gareth Williams, who co-authored the study, formed nanofibres have significant potential in various medical fields. These hydrophilic nanofibers can be used as a cheaper, greener alternative to starch in biodegradable, biosourced nanofiber applications such as next-generation bandaging or carbonised supercapacitor electrodes.

"Nanofibers show potential for use in wound dressings due to their very porous nature," explained Professor Williams. "Additionally, they are being explored for use as a scaffold to regrow tissue, mimicking the extracellular matrix that cells use to support themselves."

Dr. Clancy added, "Our technique of electrospinning allowed us to create these incredibly fine nanofibres from flour and formic acid. It's 'literally spaghetti but much smaller' - an incredible feat in materials science!"

The study published in Nanoscale Advances highlights the potential benefits of scientific research into the world of thin materials, shedding light on new possibilities for innovation in fields both practical and medical.

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