"Chemists Create Tightest 54-Atom Knot Ever"
Chemists from the University of Western Ontario and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have accidentally created the smallest and tightest molecular knot ever, consisting of just 54 atoms forming a 'trefoil' knot with no loose ends, surpassing the previous record of 69 atoms. This breakthrough in molecular knot synthesis could have implications for understanding natural knots in DNA, RNA, and proteins, as well as for developing improved plastics and polymers. The knot, made of gold atoms, assembles itself and has a backbone crossing ratio (BCR) of 18, indicating its strength. This achievement could motivate further research into self-assembling molecular structures.