It's basically just a nano-flake of graphene.
Benzene and other such fused ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are carcinogenic because of their planar shape, they get intercalated (stuck between) between the base pairs (rungs of the ladder) of DNA and by their presence they mess up DNA replication.
I'm sceptical, my understanding is that atoms and the molecules they make where to small for photons to be used to make any sort of image. I understand that electron microscopes exist but thout that they where more for figuring out where a molecule might be instead of taking pictures
This image was produced using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The technique uses an atomically sharp needle (the tip is a single atom thick) on a flexible cantilever whose movement is controlled by precise piezoelectronics. When an atom is pushing on the cantilever it flexes and the deflection of the cantilever is measured by a laser reflecting off of the back of it. By moving the needle across the surface a map of forces is generated which corresponds to the positions of the atoms.
Benzene and other such fused ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are carcinogenic because of their planar shape, they get intercalated (stuck between) between the base pairs (rungs of the ladder) of DNA and by their presence they mess up DNA replication.