Article: Nanotech FTW

[Palimino]

Our nanotechnology compared to the processes in a cell is so primitive it's not even funny. "nanobots" do not even exist.

Granted (and I am not talking about present-day nanotechnology). True nanotechnolgy (**which we don’t have**) is engineering on the atomic level. Nano machines could be organic but not necessarily so. Cells (even bigger than ginormous molecules) would comprise part of the enabling technology (chemistry) towards true nanotechnology. Dr. Eric Drexler (the ‘father’ of nanotech) did his PhD on medical cellular machines. Some clever designs (all around cell sized). This was about 20 years ago.

Cells do operate on the atomic scale, look at things like photosynthesis and ATP.

By that logic you can say that humans operate on the atomic scale (digestion, thought and a myriad of other body functions).

 

[StellenboschStudent]

Eric Drexler is not the father of nanotech (Richard Feymann is) and Drexler is a bit crazy... He is taking nanotech too far, dreaming up things that are physically impossible...

 

[Palimino]

Not related but relevant. Check-out http://www.foresight.org/SciAmDebate/ for a comprehensive refutation of an anti-nanotechnology stance.

During 1996 a debate about nanotechnology was conducted between the Foresight Institute and Scientific American magazine. IMO Scientific American got their butt comprehensively kicked. This is not gloating. I grew-up reading the Scientific American magazine and it is among the most enlightened in terms of being honest and providing feedback (as opposed to the poncy pretensions of many other magazines). They seem to have admitted their mistake (unusual for magazines) and the debate mainly revolved around deflating the egos, pomposity and pretensions of dinosaur academics.

 

[Palimino]

Eric Drexler is not the father of nanotech (Richard Feymann is) and Drexler is a bit crazy...

According to Wikipedia he is the godfather of nanotech. Feynman (sp) was an influence.

He is taking nanotech too far, dreaming up things that are physically impossible.

That’s what the best scientists of the day said about flying (new fangled flying machine). And the steam train (any rational person knows if you go faster than 15mph your head will blow-off). And the car (new fangled horseless carriage – a passing fad, it’ll never catch-on) etc. So we should pay attention to those who would limit human endeavor?

 

[homeboy]

cool! sci-fi @ it best, becomes reality