| A new generation of small cantilever atomic force microscopes have been developed which allow us to physically probe and manipulate biological molecules more precisely and more quickly than ever before. Here I will discuss key issues in the design of atomic force microscopes. I will describe the latest embodiment of a small cantilever atomic force microscope. Finally, I will provide examples of how atomic force microscopes, and in particular small cantilever atomic force microscopes, can be used to study biological materials and processes. These studies have lead to a breakthrough in our understanding of how biological composites, such as bone or nacre, dissipate energy when strained. |
