Weird Science: Nanomachines

[J T]

Whenever I read about nanomachines, I like to read fast and imagine the words being spoken by the Micromachine Man. Speaking of... did you know that there is actually a molecule sized nano-car now? John Moschitta must be freaking out!

Nanotechnology is any technology that involves the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers. That is ridiculously tiny! It gets down to the level of the quantum realm, where physics gets weird as quantum mechanical effects become important. What you may not realize is that there are already over one thousand consumer products that use nanotechnology in one way or another. Nanotech can be found in everything from computer microchips, to batteries, to paints. One application that is really fun (because it looks like a magic trick) is the use of nanotechnology for hydrophobic coatings that repel water. This video demonstration of it is amazing! There are even socks that are infused with bacteriostatic silver nanoparticles to make it so your feet don’t stink, though these may not be around long since they are believed to have dangerous consequences as they go from your feet, to the laundry, to the water streams, to destroying the bacteria that other lifeforms need to survive. Way to ruin the planet, stinky foot guy.

So nanotechnology, while also being super interesting and having amazing potential, also is kind of scary. Anything with real power can be used well, or used poorly. When so small as to be invisible to the naked eye, that makes it all the more concerning. One of the most fascinating futurist ideas regarding nanotechnology is the development of Utility Fog. This is where lots of little nanomachines, or foglets, can coordinate and replicate physical structures. These would be self-reconfiguring modular robotics that could shift shapes into whatever desired. They would be like a mix of Micromachines, Legos, and Transformers... or maybe the less friendly T-1000. One day they may be able to reconfigure molecules around them, which on the one hand could be used for good to do things like dissolve cancers and kill viruses, on the other hand, it could also go very bad and they may go around consuming the environment around them to further replicate and end up destroying ecology, leaving behind nothing but Grey Goo.

[samsonlonghair]

What did I take away from this?

Apparently my stinky feet can destroy an entire ecosystem.

[MrPopo]

I predict a shadowy cabal utilizes the technology to develop super soldiers as part of their plan to take over the world. When Hobie discovers this is happening he realizes his worst fears have come true and moves out into the middle of a forest, completely devoid of technology.

[J T]

I think the real future of war with nanobots and drones is far scarier than anything in Dues Ex.

[TSTR]

Does anyone have any examples of nanotech in the medical field? I think that application is particularly interesting.