World's First X-Ray of Single Atom Captured in Revolutionary Breakthrough.

Scientists have successfully detected the X-ray signature of a single atom for the first time using synchrotron X-ray scanning tunneling microscopy (SX-STM), opening new possibilities in environmental, medical, and quantum research. The team was able to identify and characterize individual atoms, which could revolutionize the way scientists detect materials. The smallest amount one can X-ray a sample is in attogram, that is about 10,000 atoms or more, due to the X-ray signal produced by an atom being extremely weak so that the conventional X-ray detectors cannot be used to detect it.