DNA bundle on silicon nanopillars. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) bundle and silicon nanopillars used to obtain the first high-contrast direct images of DNA. The DNA bundle has been prepared on a bed of silicon nanopillars (left and right). The holes allow the passage of electrons for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The bundle is around 20 nanometres wide, and consists of several DNA strands. This image was obtained in 2012 by a team led by Enzo di Fabrizio from the Department of Nanostructure, at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Genoa. For the TEM image, see C015/3216.