Pack n Send Blog

The Smallest Thing Ever Shipped

Posted on Thu, Dec 11, 2014

Packages come in all shapes and sizes, and most people wouldn't believe some of the things that get shipped across the country. It can be interesting to take a close look at the smallest thing ever shipped, and some of the other small items that have also shipped. For shipping companies in Houston, read about the many specialized types of shipping.

How Small is Small?

When items get down to a certain size, it can be hard to quantify. For this reason, there is some argument over what qualifies as the smallest thing ever shipped. The following items, and the stories behind them, are some of the tiniest things to make it through a shipping service.

A Single Photon

One of the more bizarre shipping tales is that of a photon. A photon is a particle of light, and is in fact considered the smallest known particle in science. With no mass and the speed of movement equal to the speed of light, it can be difficult to imagine anything smaller. In an online auction, a bidder purchased the particle. Not wanting to disappoint a customer, the seller sent what appeared to be an empty envelope to the bidder. 

small-letter-shipping-companies-in-houston

Photo By: Natasha Mileshina

 

The Smallest Letter

Mailing a photon is impressive, but it's also interesting to know the smallest visible item that has been shipped. In a society where small electronics and compact things are more desirable than larger and bulky objects, receiving small letters is sometimes a good thing. One company creates tiny greeting cards and invitations that are then sent shipped anywhere. Although they are packaged in a miniature envelope, they are too small to be sent that way and are shipped in larger envelopes. The tiny notes are printed in a miniature font, on miniature paper. Each note is so small that the message comes with a magnifying glass and needs to be shipped in a protective coin case.

Practical Objects

Incredibly, there are some minuscule objects that have been manmade and shipped. One such object is a mini disposable camera. In this case, the term "mini" does not do the item justice. This camera is the size of a grain of salt, or about one millimeter. It was created for medical purposes; it is capable of capturing images from inside the human body. Originally manufactured in Germany, this tiny life-saver has had to make it''s way through various shipping channels. 

A television doesn't sound like it would even come close to being the smallest thing ever shipped, but the smallest television in the world is much smaller than one might expect. Measuring at only about 4x3 millimeters, this product actually works. One company even started making display cases for the televisions. It's hard to know what's more amazing- watching a show on this product or sending it to someone.

Another product of technology that can be classified as tiny and useful is called the RoboBee. Although small in stature, this product has some incredible applications. It is a drone the size of a penny, and has many applications. They can be used in search and rescue situations, climate mapping, and a variety of other applications. Their small and delicate size make it difficult to imagine them being shipped, but it can be done and has been done. 

Shipping for All

Shipping small products is a delicate and detailed process. There are many different shipping options, each suitable for different types of items. Fortunately, there are effective ways to ship objects of all sizes, even if they don't break any world records.

 

Request a  Shipping Quote