ScienceMakesMyHeadFeelAllHurty

No, you aren't looking at the world's most accurate model of the U.S.S. Enterprise done in dust bunnies. It's actually much smaller than that.

You are looking at a one-billionth scale model of the Enterprise (the one from 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' not the original 'Star Trek') made from "30 kV Ga+ focused-ion- beam CVD using phenanthrene gas."

The model won the 2003 "Best Ion Micrograph" award at The 47th International Conference on Electron, Ion and Photon Beam Technology and Nanofabrication. And if you think that's enthralling, you should see the models they put together for their 'after dark' show. Let's just say you should bring your wide angle lens for your electron microscope.

[via Discover Magazine]