Nanotechnology
Download Full Article NANOTECHNOLOGY
Shotgun marriage of Chemistry and engineering is called nanotechnology. Aim of this nanotechnology is to produce self-replicating machinery and self- assembling consumer goods from cheap raw atoms. If we can place atoms on a structure under construction this opens up a realm of super large molecules not found in nature designed by engineers. Ideally programmed nanities, machines with atomic sized components could take any source of e atoms and energy, make copies themselves, then grow things without traditional manufacturing technique and without by products. No waste no side reaction means this technology will be super green.
Introduction
Computers reproduce information at almost no cost. A push is well underway to invent devices that manufacture at almost no cost, by treating atoms like computers treat bits of information. This would allow automatic construction of consumer goods with out traditional labour, like a Xerox machine produces unlimited copies without a secretary retyping the original information. Electronics is fuelled by miniaturization. Working smaller has led to the tools capable of manipulating individual atoms like the proteins in a potato manipulate the atoms of soil and water to make copies of itself (Drexler, Merkle paraphrased). The secret to self-replication, biological or synthetic, is prefabricated building blocks. Biology uses atoms. Atoms are as new and squeaky clean as the instant they condensed out of pure energy of the Big Bang, come in 92 flavors (elements), each atom is identical (electronically) to any other atom in a flavor and have the remarkable attribute of sticking to each, other.
The shotgun marriage of chemistry and engineering called “Nanotechnology” is ushering in the era of self-replicating machinery and self-assembling consumer goods made from cheap raw atoms (Drexler, Merkle paraphrased). If we can place atoms on a structure under construction individually, this opens up a realm of super large molecules not found in nature, designed by engineers (adhering to the normal laws of chemistry) Structures, big structures, or microscopic structures and machines could be made of materials with unusual physical properties like carbon in its ultra- strong form, diamond. Ideally, programmed “nanites”, machines with atomic sized components could take any source of required atoms and energy, make copies of themselves, then “grow” things without traditional manufacturing techniques and without by-products. No waste and no side reactions means this tech would be super green Nanites could be programmed and unleashed to clean up existing industrial pollution (and will within two decades).