Nano-Technology
From ImmInstWiki
Nano-Technology (or loosely Nanotech) is a field of both research and engineering that deals with the creation of mechanisms, materials, and processes on the nanometer scale; the term is also used to reference materials and devices on scales smaller than 1 Nanometer.
The engineering of devices on the nanometer scale requires knowledge and practice from several related fields including: Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Informatics, Materials Science, Chemistry, and Applied Physics.
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Applications for Nano-scale materials, devices, and processes
Currently there are several major classes of applications for nano-scale engineering, these include: Chemical Filtration, Computation, Energy Storage and Production, Molecular Self-Assembly, Material Coatings, Nanomedicine, and the development of materials with salient qualities such as increased flexibility, strength, and peculiar optical behavior.
Notable Achievements
Here is a small sampling of some of the accomplishments within the field:
Biology
- Flesh Welding - At Rice University, a team of researchers have been able to meld two pieces of chicken meat together by pouring a solution containing gold nano-particles onto the seem and heated it with an infrared laser. It is believed that this sort of technology might have applications during surgery where classical stitching techniques could be replaced.
- Annihilation of cancer cells - At Rice University, Prof. Jennifer West has shown it is possible to kill cancer cells by exposing them to gold nano-shells, the shells bond to the cancerous cells and then the gold is heated which effectively kills the cells.
Electrical Engineering
- Nanowire LEDs - Researchers at IBM have shown that LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) can be made on the nano-scale. These LEDs are made from a thin wire of Indium Nitride between a cathode and an anode, the wire emits light on the infrared spectrum.
Energy
Computation
Materials Engineering
Implications for the pursuit of immortality (and Human augmentation)
Perhaps the most fruitful subfield of nano-scale engineering deals with the creation of devices which can interface with biological systems and perform defense, maintenance, and garbage collection functions within these living organisms. Such devices might be able to defend cells within the body from viral infection, strengthen the walls of major arteries, deliver drugs in precise amounts in a controlled manner, or even quarantine cells which exhibit uncontrollable reproductive activity (cancer).
It is firmly believed that given more time for the field to mature, technologies as well as improved techniques will emerge that have the potential to affect the human life-span positively. In effect allowing us to maintain our health, and critical bodily functions far longer than is seen as natural.
Nanorobotics
Nanorobotics is a subfield of nanotechnology which is primarily focused with the design and manufacturing of nanoscopic machines that can perform relatively complex tasks. Some of the foreseen for nanoscopic robots include structural enhancement, repair, or manufacturing of other devices or materials.
It is hoped that sometime in the near future 'nanorobots' may actually provide autonomous defense and repair of critical organs within the human body, organs such as the heart, liver, lungs, skin, and possibly even the brain.
Possible Risks
Nano-scale engineering offers both great promises, as well as great dangers. Many believe that the risk can be averted by raising awareness about the nature of the technology, as well as enacting proper legislation to restrict how nano-scale materials are handled, distributed, and stored.
