Buckling Nanotubes in One Plane (IMAGE) North Carolina State University Caption The blue lines here represent carbon nanotubes, while the gray background represents the elastic substrate. In the top image, there is considerable overlap of the nanotubes. In the middle image, the substrate has been stretched, creating some separation of the nanotubes. In the bottom image, the substrate is relaxed, and the nanotubes have buckled into squiggly lines on a flat surface. Credit Yong Zhu, North Carolina State University Usage Restrictions Image credit must be given. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.