Humidity on oil

Can you imagine life without water? Yes, we can survive without water, but not for long. The human body is about 60% water. At the nanoscale, most of the biological processes in solution (i.e. cell signalling or protein folding) are mediated by molecules of water. If we consider phenomena in the presence of humid air -from dryness to full hydration states- the ultrathin water layers are also essential in the structure and function of the molecules of life.

In this image, we can appreciate one of those processes, the wetting or hydration of an «oily» material at the nanoscale. The image corresponds to a supported lipid bilayer observed by Atomic Force Microscopy in air. The left panel shows the «dry» state whereas the right panel illustrates the «partially hydrated» state after tuning the humidity of the system. Fascinating, right?  

Image taken by Maiara Aime Iriarte Alonso.