#Miniaturization

[almostacoffeewizard]

A-Z in a pencil lead

[clemsfilmdiary]

The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981, Joel Schumacher)

6/26/23

[borrowedtimeandspace]

Tables Turned

20. Intimidate

From this list of gt prompts.

AU: Alternate BTaS with Twelve, not related to the Twelve AU "Time After Time" as it predates that story. Set during s8e2 Into The Dalek.

Note: I went back and forth on making this from Clara's POV or Zepheera's, but the former lent well to this prompt so I rolled with it. Not quite a size swap, but a fun reversal to play with!

~~~

Clara had never focused on her breathing more than in that moment. All she could hear in her head was the Doctor's objectively silly, yet somehow incredibly potent warning on repeat in her head.

"Don't be lasagne."

Couple that with the mental image of her body popping like a microwave dinner with an unbroken film, and Clara had to concentrate on not just breathing normally, but to keep herself from hyperventilating.

Being crammed into a tube with four other people was a whole other matter, even if one of them was the Doctor. The brand new Doctor that she still had yet to get to know properly. Clara glanced at him as the countdown to the machine's activation began, and followed his sharp gaze to one of the soldiers outside their capsule.

Clara could just make out, through the curve of the thick glass around them, the distant silhouette of their third travel companion on the soldier's shoulder. The figure of a four and a half inch tall woman, standing well to the side of the unfamiliar human's neck in a manner quite unlike the more relaxed positions Clara was used to. Once the two women had gotten used to each other (and particularly back when the Doctor was a different, slightly more personable man), Zepheera could often be found in the crook of one of their necks for stability.

The Doctor wasn't the only one worried about leaving the borrower behind, but in the end they all agreed it was for the best. Even Zepheera's protests about her exclusion were silenced when he reminded her that they were being miniaturized to a microscopic level. He'd left nothing to the imagination as he pointed out the drastic size difference there already was between the borrower and her companions. If she were to join them, she'd be practically subcellular, and there was nothing that could save her if they were to be separated while in the chassis of the Dalek they were meant to examine from the inside. 

That was almost a more sobering notion than the lasagne metaphor.

The hum of the miniaturization machine powered up, and the process began. Lost in her thoughts and her breathing, Clara almost missed that it had happened, it was over so quickly. Like they had all fallen a short distance, but experienced no impact.

The room outside their capsule had blown out into such incredible proportions that it was difficult for Clara to comprehend at first. The tremor that hit the miniaturized lot all at once felt like an earthquake, and yet Clara came to find that, based on the change in the looming shapes above, that it was one of many steps that one soldier had taken toward retrieving them from the machine. She'd only just begun to wonder why they had stopped at just one step when a new set of vibrations approached. These ones were far less intense but more rapid, and heralded a familiar shape.

Clara found her jaw dropping in awe as she stared up and up through the glass at the towering form of not one of the humans, but of the borrower, grinding to a halt after her jog to find them.

She knew for a fact that they were going to be miniaturized to a size far smaller than Zepheera's few inches, but knowing that fact and experiencing it were two very different things. Up til now, everything Zepheera did seemed light and nimble. The way she'd climb her way around and vanish from sight with ease after decades of practice was almost magical. Like something straight out of a storybook, Clara had thought.

Now, Zepheera felt like something out of a completely different story. The capsule itself was smaller than Zepheera's boot, which ordinarily barely covered one of Clara's fingertips. Every motion she made shook the ground as she dropped to her hands and knees to peer inside the capsule, her deep violet irises more clear to Clara than they'd ever been before. 

The level of detail she could make out now was incredible! Short brown hair hanging like curtains of wire around her head, creases of concern in her features that Clara could probably fit her whole hand between. Speaking of hands, Zepheera's were pressed to the ground not all that far away, to support her impressive frame. The fingers were long enough to outmatch any of them, the whole hand large enough to pick up the capsule herself as though it were a discarded soda can. The massive chest overhead expanded and contracted as Zepheera breathed a sigh of relief to see everyone safe and no one made into unbroken lasagne, a displacement that felt like a gust to the miniaturized humans. Not to the point that it shook them up from inside their sturdy little tube of metal and glass, but in that way that you sense wind against a window in a building.

Someone chastised Zepheera for getting so close and interrupting procedures. As a sheepish look crossed her billboard of a face, Clara looked to the others around her. The Doctor was fine– well, as fine as he could be while preparing to enter one of his greatest enemies– and simply shot Zepheera a stern look over his shoulder. Seeing the tense body language of the soldiers who didn't know the towering borrower made Clara recognize that she, too, felt stiff all over at the sight.

Clara wondered if Zepheera felt so intimidated around herself and the Doctor sometimes.

The tremors of Zepheera sitting back on her heels were apparently enough to distract Clara from the approaching soldier, and the next thing she knew, there was an enormous pair of tweezers on either side of the capsule. Before they could connect, Clara shot one more look upwards at the borrower overhead, and their eyes met. Concern was still evident in Zepheera's expression high above, so Clara instinctively stuck out a thumbs-up for her. 

Zepheera's brow rose, but then she smiled and held up her own thumbs-up. With a thumb that very well might have been taller than Clara at that moment.

Another humbling thought.

[zmpl]

i ❤️ my phone so i made it a bedroom to go to sleep in when i want to reduce my screen time

[asmund-scion-of-ice]

Congratulations!!!

You might know this tiny frog.

This is Mini mum (photo by Andolalao Rakotoarison), a species I had the pleasure to name—together with a team of amazing colleagues—back in 2019.

That was the start of a fascination with the process and consequences of miniaturisation for vertebrates. How the hell does this tiny frog manage to fit all of its vital organs—more or less all the same senses and organs that we have—into a package the size of a tic-tac‽ Why and how has it evolved to be so small? And why don't we get frogs that are much smaller?

Well, I just secured 1.5 MILLION Euros (!!!) in the form of a European Research Commission Starting Grant, to answer these and other related questions in the genomes of Mini frogs and other miniaturised vertebrates.

Because it turns out, there are *lots* of miniaturised vertebrates, and they push the boundaries of how small we think it is possible for a vertebrate to be! Here is a little graphic of some of them, scaled to a BIC ballpoint pen.

The project is called GEMINI: The Genomics of Miniaturisation in Vertebrates! You can read more about it on my website here, and in the press release, here!

[tictacpbandai]

[letmeinimafairy]

Carved this small gallery after filling the shell with resin first, to try and make smaller windows (so it won't break).

[sweatybelieverfun]

Area Sensors Market Future Trends Focus on Smart Automation, Miniaturization, and Industry 4.0 Integration

The area sensors market is experiencing a pivotal transformation driven by advanced manufacturing demands, smart automation, and digital integration across industries. As a critical component of modern industrial setups, area sensors are increasingly being adopted in sectors such as automotive, packaging, electronics, food processing, and logistics. With their ability to detect objects over a designated area, they are vital for enhancing safety, precision, and productivity on automated lines.

Looking ahead, the future trends in the area sensors market reflect a strong alignment with Industry 4.0, sustainability goals, and the evolution of intelligent systems. From miniaturization to AI-powered sensing capabilities, these trends are reshaping how industries operate and optimize their processes.

Rise of Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 Integration

One of the most defining future trends in the area sensors market is their increasing integration into smart manufacturing systems. As factories transition to Industry 4.0 models, the demand for sensors that can collect real-time data and facilitate automation is surging.

Area sensors are now being designed with built-in communication protocols such as IO-Link and Ethernet, allowing them to seamlessly connect with industrial control systems and cloud platforms. These sensors contribute to predictive maintenance, energy optimization, and workflow automation, making them indispensable in future-ready manufacturing environments.

With machine-to-machine communication becoming the norm, area sensors are expected to play a central role in monitoring and optimizing assembly lines, robotic operations, and safety zones.

Miniaturization and Compact Design Innovation

The trend toward compact and space-saving machinery has spurred the development of miniaturized area sensors. As equipment becomes smaller and more efficient, sensor manufacturers are responding with ultra-compact models that do not compromise on performance.

These miniaturized sensors are easier to install in tight spaces and offer greater design flexibility to OEMs and engineers. Despite their small size, they are equipped with advanced features such as high-resolution detection, wide-area coverage, and robust environmental resistance.

This miniaturization trend is especially prominent in industries like electronics and pharmaceuticals, where precision and space efficiency are crucial.

Enhanced Safety and Compliance Solutions

Safety continues to be a top priority in industrial environments, and area sensors are evolving to meet stringent safety standards. Future developments will focus on expanding the role of sensors in machine safety applications, including perimeter monitoring, access control, and zone safeguarding.

Advanced area sensors are now being designed to comply with international safety standards such as ISO 13849 and IEC 61508. They are integrated into safety control systems to detect unauthorized access or human presence in dangerous zones, automatically triggering shutdowns or alerts.

With automation systems becoming faster and more powerful, the need for responsive and reliable safety sensors is increasing. The market will see more development of sensors that offer both safety and operational monitoring capabilities in a single device.

AI and Edge Computing Integration

A major emerging trend in the area sensors market is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing. These technologies enable sensors to perform complex data analysis at the point of operation, reducing latency and enhancing decision-making.

By processing information locally, smart area sensors can detect patterns, adapt to changing environments, and trigger actions without waiting for commands from a centralized system. This not only improves response time but also minimizes downtime and increases overall system efficiency.

AI-powered sensors will be particularly valuable in high-speed manufacturing and quality control applications, where milliseconds can impact productivity and safety.

Wireless and Battery-Free Sensor Development

The push for more flexible and sustainable sensing solutions is driving innovation in wireless and battery-free area sensors. Using energy harvesting techniques and ultra-low-power components, these sensors can operate without wired connections or frequent battery replacements.

This trend is ideal for remote or hard-to-access installations, such as large warehouse automation systems or mobile robotic units. Wireless area sensors support more dynamic layouts and reduce the need for extensive cabling, simplifying both initial setup and future modifications.

As wireless communication standards improve, particularly with advancements in 5G and industrial Wi-Fi, these sensors will become a staple in next-generation industrial environments.

Market Expansion in Emerging Economies

As industrial automation spreads globally, emerging economies in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and parts of Africa are becoming key growth markets for area sensors. Governments and industries in these regions are investing in smart factories, digital infrastructure, and safety improvements, driving demand for sensor technologies.

Local manufacturing initiatives and the expansion of logistics networks are creating new opportunities for area sensor deployment. Furthermore, price-sensitive customers are encouraging manufacturers to offer cost-effective solutions without compromising performance, which is leading to more innovation in affordable yet advanced product lines.

Environmental Durability and Rugged Performance

Future area sensors are expected to perform reliably in a wider range of challenging environments, including high humidity, extreme temperatures, vibration-prone settings, and dusty or oily conditions. Enhanced ingress protection (IP), shock resistance, and corrosion-proof housings are becoming standard features.

This trend is crucial for sectors such as mining, food processing, and automotive manufacturing, where durability is essential for continuous operation. As environmental regulations grow stricter, sensors that contribute to safer, cleaner, and more efficient operations will see increased adoption.

Conclusion

The area sensors market is rapidly evolving to meet the demands of a smarter, faster, and more connected industrial world. Future trends such as smart system integration, AI enablement, miniaturization, and sustainable design are setting the stage for unprecedented growth and innovation.

Companies that embrace these trends by investing in flexible, intelligent, and durable sensor solutions will be best positioned to lead in the era of smart automation. As industry requirements grow more complex, area sensors will remain at the heart of operational efficiency, worker safety, and technological advancement.

[thedowntown500]

[shamebats]

You'll have to turn sound on for this one

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

ok YES it was my circus but i firmly deny the accusation those are my monkeys.

[crickette17]

Sometimes, just for fun, I make critters out of porcelain.

[melonwah]

[bunnypets]

by dimda_