Poll (Updated and Bumped)

In response to the post on the M&M caper, a representative from a company named ASPEX, a provider of “microanalysis solutions for a wide range of production environments” including SEM and EDX analysis, contacted us and offered a free SEM scan of any object of our choosing using their benchtop SEM (updated to massage wording).  Naturally, we jumped at the opportunity.

I immediately contacted the Raleigh News and Observer to see if the subject of the M&M article wanted to provide some of the tooth-like sugar lump for SEM analysis.  How cool would that have been?  I received two responses from the N&O.  a) the state used all of the sample in figuring out the composition of the sugar lump (really?  The WHOLE thing to find out it was sugar?), and b) my use of the N&O’s image was in violation of copyright, and I needed to remove the image.  oops.

So, since we can’t get our hands on that, let’s have a vote to see what we should send to ASPEX for analysis!  Choose from a few foodstuffs as well as a few labstuffs, or tell us what you want to see up close and personal.  Voting will be open until Thursday so cast your vote NOW!

ASPEX also wants readers to know that you, too, can send in any sample of your choosing for a complimentary SEM scan!  Just head over to their website and fill out the form.  If the object you vote for doesn’t win, send it yourself!  Make sure you let us know, so we can link to the results and have a regular picture swap.

Happy scanning.

RESULTS!

Well, thanks to everyone who voted. The teflon stir bar won a decisive plurality, getting 40.4% of the vote. An M&M made a strong late game run, and finished 2nd with 23.4%. Rounding out the top 5 were Peanut (17%), Rubber septum (10.6%) and Other (8.5%).

I’ll be sending ASPEX a nice, scuffed up, old teflon stir bar soon. Let’s see what happens to one of these things after years of hard work.

Don’t forget, if you want to send in something of your own for a free SEM scan, just head to their website for the form to fill out.

Here is a picture of  a ‘new’ stir bar and the stir bar we’re sending for SEM to see what it looks like really really close up.

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