Nanotechnology

Published by Evis T
August 13, 2008, Category: Applied Science

Nanotechnology, an exciting future development.

As seen in: Star trek, Dr Who, Stargate: Atlantis, Metal Gear Solid.

For the uninitiated, nano technology revolves around the use of technology at the nano level. It’s like context sensitive. It’s something that’s sensitive to context (If you get that reference, give yourself a cookie). Basically, robots that are built at the nanometer level, which is about 10000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. The uses of these little critters range from rebuilding neural pathways and sealing wounds, to providing an internal radar and assimilating species into the Borg collective.

As always, I find that it’s far easier to teach you things by showing them to you rather than going on and on about them, so here’s another video for your viewing pleasure. This will explain the basic concepts behind nanotechnology, how it works and also touches on some of the uses:

So what can we do with nanotechnology?

There are many uses for nanotech, and one of the big ones lies in manufacturing. Now, silicon, the main material in modern processors, can be found in abundance in sand. The problem is that getting it out of that sand can be a nightmare in its own right. But what if you could build a workforce that was about the size of the little clumps of the silicon? You could sprinkle them over the sand, and then as id by magic, after a time you would have a small pile of silicon appearing out of thin air, while the pile of sand would seem to shrink slowly.

And how about building things on the atomic level? For example, nano machines building other nano machines- Some the “colony” is lost when some idiot accidentally sneezes on the equipment, so the nano machines get to work building replacements as they carry on with their task. Computer systems operate on a very small scale too (especially the processors), so could we, in theory build these from nano machines? I like to think so.

As we saw in the video, nano machines could also be used to clear clogged arteries in the human body. But the medical benefits don’t stop there. Take a look at this article, showing how we might one day in the not too distant future, be able to use nanotechnology to cure brain tumors. Or, we can take this even further and see some actual experiments in which scientists have managed to reconnect parts of a rat s brain after they where damaged. Whereas the rat was blind, now it can see.

Is nanotechnology dangerous?

There are many theories on this subject, and many experts disagree. Some say that the technology carries no more risk than any other technology today. For example, if you take drugs to help with a brain tumor, they are just as likely to harm you as the nano machines going haywire. Other experts say that the grey goo scenario, a hypothetical idea in which nano machines consume all living things, is more of a possibility than scientists imagine. For the most part though, it looks like the main problem with nanotechnology is the creation of these small particles. Ask anyone who’s ever worked in a mine of breathing in small particles is good for you (Or just ask any intelligent smoker), and they’ll give you the same answer.

The technology is still very much in its infancy, and so we can’t as of yet, say with certainty how safe it is. For the moment though, it seems fairly benign.