Chemical Knot: Scientists assemble legendary symbol by interlocking molecules

In a feat of chemistry imitating art, researchers have created a molecular version of a Borromean knot, an attractive pattern of three interlocking rings that commonly adorned Viking art and Renaissance architecture. Other chemists have created a multiply linked molecule that looks like an eight-petal flower.

MOLECULAR ICON. In forming these Borromean rings, zinc ions (silver spheres) guided the assembly of molecular chains into interlocking circles.