UK researchers have developed a tiny turbine composed of nested carbon nanotubes. Even though the design is currently only theoretical, many uses having already been suggested for the nanoscale rotor, including in a novel kind of computer memory. The researchers have also suggested that the turbine could be used in a sort of “inkjet” printer for nanofabrication.
But there are possibilities beyond spraying nanoparticles on a surface. If arms were attached to two counter-rotating turbines, then they could be used to forcefully bring molecular components together—mechanosynthesis. It’s probably not possible to make diamondoid structures this way, but there are plenty of other things you could make. After all, we know that this is possible on some level because it’s very similar to how cells form the high energy bond in ATP.
The Defense Department’s research arm, DARPA, is very interested in bionic limbs, and with good reason: it’s an amputee’s best bet for a chance at a relatively normal life. One is tempted to suspect that they also want to create bionic supersoldiers, but that idea doesn’t stand up to a reality check. If you had a bionic arm more powerful than your natural limb, it would still be connected to your weak fleshy parts. If you tried to lift a car, you’d just break all of the supporting bones, such as your clavicle, ribs, and spine.
That piece of equipment is currently available (though still in the early testing stages) but not very practical. Instead, amputees need bionics that mimic the real thing. Researchers are developing synthetic skin (hat tip: Kurzweil AI) using special polymers and carbon nanotubes that could provide a natural level of tactile sensitivity. It would allow the arm’s owner to shake hands and sense temperature, but the real trick is connecting it to the brain.
Read the rest of this entry »
Scientists have developed a radio built from a single carbon nanotube. Since this nanoradio is many times smaller than a cell, the article talks about using it to peer inside living cells. Indeed, tiny robots could, theoretically, enter a cell and use the radio to send data back. I’m not sure how they would observe the cell since they would require concomitantly small sensors. It’s not like they could simply create a “nanocamera” and literally watch what’s going on in there. Instead, radios like these will find use in nanobots patrolling the body, for example, to clean plaques from arteries or just to monitor overall health.
UK researchers have developed a new fiber made from carbon nanotubes that can be used in body armor, solar panels, and smart clothes. The military is obviously interested in the armor applications, and the fiber performs as well as or better than Kevlar in many respects. That’s great because we can definitely use better body armor, but personally, I’m more interested in smart clothes.
Smart clothes offer features such as sensors to monitor health, integral music player, and keypads and displays that are part of the fabric. The ability of nanotubes to conduct electricity (plus withstand industrial machinery and repeated washings) makes them ideal for such an application. Because why should I have to carry a Blackberry when I can get e-mail on my sleeve?
