News Chemistry Molecules, like Tinkertoys, link up By Jessica Gorman October 18, 2001 at 9:48 am - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print By developing a novel way to make molecules assemble themselves, researchers may Scanning tunneling microscopy shows porphyrin molecules that self-assembled into wires. Nature have opened a new route to microscopic devices, including nanoscale electronics. Like Tinkertoys or Lincoln Logs, the molecules connect to each other only at certain points.