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Looking like tree roots, this captivating band of features was produced by placing an electric field across the surface of a thin polymer film, causing the surface of the film to become unstable, forming a wave pattern on the surface that grows as time passes. Eventually a band of lines is seen that resemble the roots of a tree.
This image was captured in an optical microscope. The colors arise from light reflecting off the surface of the polymer and the underlying support. The colors tell you what the thickness of the film is, and so, the contour of the surface can be directly measured. In this image, the roots appear to be shooting across the field of view.Image credit: VISUAL, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
