How can I degrade a solid object into atoms?

Let's say I want to take a paper bag, and just degrade it into a bunch of atoms. Or into molecules. Is this possible? And how can I do it?





Only way I can think of is burning it, but is there another way?How can I degrade a solid object into atoms?
It is possible to ';manipulate'; individual atoms using an ';atomic force microscope';. Here's a link to IBM research:





Just Google: ';IBM scientists directly measure charge states of atoms using an atomic force microscope';





http://www.zurich.ibm.com/news/09/afm.ht鈥?/a>





In another news article, this microscope was used to rearrange atoms of a metal to spell ';IBM'; (of course!)

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