In various areas of science, the act of observation changes the nature of that which is observed. In physics, the term "Observer Effect" refers to changes that the act of observation will make on the phenomenon being observed. Somewhat related is the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle in quantum theory. My posting from yesterday was a psychology version of this. The subject of the observation appeared to be showing "Stereotype threat." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype_threat) This posting shows an atomic version (with unrealistic spacial dimensions and use of a normal microscope for observation of atoms...) See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observer_effect