ABSTRACT
A varied selection of analogies from areas of biology, chemistry, physics and technology are chosen for discussion. Topics include radiolarians, fullerenes, the honeycomb, crystal habit, Langmuir-Blodgett films, communication networks and architectural structures. Single-sided films of one molecule thickness can be established on a water surface, the water being called the subphase. This is the basis of a scientific method of producing thin films built up from repeated layers. The potential of the method is that organic molecules can be deposited in a series of highly regular layers, provided the molecules do not rearrange themselves on the substrate. Dipping of a substrate and deposition of Langmuir-Blodgett films is carried out at a pressure within this 'solid' phase. The property of a soap film in minimizing its length when confined between parallel plates can be used to design communications systems of minimum length.
