2018-01-02
The World’s Smallest Nativity Scene Created in Lithuania
The creativity and innovation centre “LinkMenų Fabrikas” at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) and its partners created the world’s smallest nativity scene. It has just been submitted for review to a panel of judges from the Guinness World Records. The scene is an exact replica of the nativity scene at the Cathedral square in Vilnius. It has been reduced 10 000 times to reach the size of one-third of a millimetre.
On Friday, the nano-nativity scene was presented to Pope Francis as a gift on behalf of the Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė. Two nano-nativity scenes are available to the public in Vilnius: one at VGTU’s creativity and innovation centre “LinkMenų fabrikas” and one at Vilnius Municipality.
“With the festive season upon us, we would like to demonstrate to the world an exceptional science and business potential in high-technology market in Lithuania. We do not only master the technology, but we are also able to apply it creatively by developing a new form to an old tradition, and combining both intellectual and cultural achievements of humanity. It is very important that VGTU students have a chance to work on such unprecedented interdisciplinary and multifaceted projects in cooperation with researchers, companies and public bodies,” said Eglė Girdzijauskaitė Vice Director at VGTU "LinkMenų fabrikas".
It took three months to bring the idea of nano-nativity scene to life. The project was developed by the team of 30 people: VGTU students and professors, the Laser Research Centre at Vilnius University, companies “Femtika” and “Idėja 3D”. First, fifteen sculptures from the nativity scene at the Cathedral square in Vilnius were scanned: the Holy Family, the Three Wise men greeting the Holy Family, Shepherds and animals. Then, a 3D model of the scene was developed, and all characters were reduced to nanoscale dimensions, making it invisible to the human eye. Finally, the scene was printed with the latest 3D laser printing technologies. The size of the nativity scene – just 300 micrometres (0.3 mm), and it could be placed on a single human eyelash. In this nanoscale, Baby Jesus is smaller than a human cell!
The Mayor of Vilnius Remigijus Šimašius believes that Lithuania is among the global leaders in laser technology, and an academic community in Vilnius is an excellent source of an outstanding talent, who make the city very well-known and interesting to live in.
“Once more the achievements of researchers in Vilnius surprised the world, and this project proves yet again that our talent pool is our greatest asset. They are the best at presenting our city as the hi-tech centre of the future,” said the Mayor of Vilnius.
Five copies of the nano-nativity scene were produced. One was presented to Pope Francis as a gift on behalf of the Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė. The second one will remain in the Lithuanian Presidential Palace in Vilnius, the third one – in Vilnius Archdiocese. Other nano-nativity scene sculptures will be made available to the public at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University creativity and innovation centre “LinkMenų fabrikas” and at Vilnius Municipality. Organisational partners of the project: Vilnius Archdiocese, “Go Vilnius”, public body “Invest Lithuania”, the patron of the idea – the Presidency of the Republic of Lithuania.
Watch the video how the nano-nativity scene was created
On Friday, the nano-nativity scene was presented to Pope Francis as a gift on behalf of the Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė. Two nano-nativity scenes are available to the public in Vilnius: one at VGTU’s creativity and innovation centre “LinkMenų fabrikas” and one at Vilnius Municipality.
“With the festive season upon us, we would like to demonstrate to the world an exceptional science and business potential in high-technology market in Lithuania. We do not only master the technology, but we are also able to apply it creatively by developing a new form to an old tradition, and combining both intellectual and cultural achievements of humanity. It is very important that VGTU students have a chance to work on such unprecedented interdisciplinary and multifaceted projects in cooperation with researchers, companies and public bodies,” said Eglė Girdzijauskaitė Vice Director at VGTU "LinkMenų fabrikas".
It took three months to bring the idea of nano-nativity scene to life. The project was developed by the team of 30 people: VGTU students and professors, the Laser Research Centre at Vilnius University, companies “Femtika” and “Idėja 3D”. First, fifteen sculptures from the nativity scene at the Cathedral square in Vilnius were scanned: the Holy Family, the Three Wise men greeting the Holy Family, Shepherds and animals. Then, a 3D model of the scene was developed, and all characters were reduced to nanoscale dimensions, making it invisible to the human eye. Finally, the scene was printed with the latest 3D laser printing technologies. The size of the nativity scene – just 300 micrometres (0.3 mm), and it could be placed on a single human eyelash. In this nanoscale, Baby Jesus is smaller than a human cell!
The Mayor of Vilnius Remigijus Šimašius believes that Lithuania is among the global leaders in laser technology, and an academic community in Vilnius is an excellent source of an outstanding talent, who make the city very well-known and interesting to live in.
“Once more the achievements of researchers in Vilnius surprised the world, and this project proves yet again that our talent pool is our greatest asset. They are the best at presenting our city as the hi-tech centre of the future,” said the Mayor of Vilnius.
Five copies of the nano-nativity scene were produced. One was presented to Pope Francis as a gift on behalf of the Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė. The second one will remain in the Lithuanian Presidential Palace in Vilnius, the third one – in Vilnius Archdiocese. Other nano-nativity scene sculptures will be made available to the public at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University creativity and innovation centre “LinkMenų fabrikas” and at Vilnius Municipality. Organisational partners of the project: Vilnius Archdiocese, “Go Vilnius”, public body “Invest Lithuania”, the patron of the idea – the Presidency of the Republic of Lithuania.
Watch the video how the nano-nativity scene was created