Clearest-ever view of silicon. High resolution transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of the atomic surface of a silicon crystal. The surface is made of triangular subunits which consist of 3 layers. The 6 atoms of the top layer (adatoms) appear as black spots in each subunit. Atoms in the lower levels appear as blue lines around small structural holes (white). Each subunit is bonded to its neighbours by 9 atoms in the deepest layer; these bonded atoms (dimers) appear as blue lines between the subunits. At the subunit corners are large white circular structures. Magnification: x5,000,000 at 6x6cm size.