Description

When metal films are heated to high temperatures, they will often gain the mobility to form new structures on the surface. Platinum films heated to 900 degrees Celsius form microscopic dendrite formations, which were imaged via optical microscope under filtered "dark field" conditions. Pinholes, dust, and other surface imperfections give the image the surreal look of an intergalactic space invasion, rather than micro- and nano-scale formations of metal under a microscope.