A research team from the University of California, San Diego, led by Shaowei Lim, has developed a new technique called infrared spectroscopy integrated with scanning tunneling microscopy (IRiSTM), which allows measuring the vibrational properties of individual molecules[2]. Traditional infrared spectroscopy can only detect the collective signal of millions or billions of molecules at once, while this new method makes it possible to hear the "vibrational signature" of a single molecule[2]. The technique combines infrared excitation with the measurement of quantum tunneling of electrons between a sharp metal tip and a surface[2]. Each molecule has its own unique vibrational signature, which reflects both its chemical structure and its nanometer environment[2]. This method brings chemists closer to the long-held dream of controlling chemical reactions by injecting energy into individual bonds and directing molecules along desired paths[2]. The study was published on February 19, 2026 in the journal Science, and its research was funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy[2].