News Chemistry Heat spurs growth of tiny carbon trees By Corinna Wu September 20, 2002 at 7:12 pm - 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 With a simple heating and cooling process, scientists can grow a forest of microscopic carbon trees on a surface, according to a new study. Like a forest of fuzzy cotton swabs, microscopic carbon trees of different heights spring from a graphite surface. Ajayan In the past, scientists have used catalysts to stimulate the growth of nanotubes and other carbon structures on surfaces (SN: 8/21/99, p.