h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Vibrations are indeed a very important set back with the STM as the author of the article states, though I think he underplayed their importance.
I once saw a lecture about the STM, and it was suggested that at this level, background vibrations meant that trying to hold the tip of the needle at a constant distance from the surface being scanned was like trying to hold an object one millimetre from a surface which is oscillating up and down by one metre, hundreds of times each second.
I'm not sure that just sticking your lego model STM in a bell jar is going to be enough to dampen the vibrations.

"You're talking 'bout good vibrations,
She's giving me the excite-tations......"

Livzy:

Barney: I wouldn't know. All I know about STMs is what our Physics teacher said. He's more into nuclear physics - apparently, he worked on the design of Sizewell B!