The snowman was made from 2 tiny tin beads welded with platinum, and the scientists used something called an ion beam to carve the eyes and the smile. Another particle of platinum was used for the nose, which measures just 0.001 mm across.

“The snowman is mounted on a silicon cantilever from an atomic force microscope whose sharp tip ‘feels’ surfaces creating topographic surveys at almost atomic scales,” says the NPL.

If this snowman was presented to you, it would just look like a mere speck of dust. A snowflake is about the same size as the snowman.

Photo: Dr Cox / National Physical Laboratory

Source: The Register UK