THE FUTURE OF COMPUTER

Nanotechnology

What is Nanotechnology? Nanotechnology is a broad term that covers many areas of science, research and technology.In its most basic form, it can be described as working with things that are small. Things so tiny thatthey can't be seen with standardmicroscopes. The same stuff that has always been there, but we just couldn't see it. The building blocks of nature, atoms and molecules. Nano-technology involves understanding matter atthe "nano" scale. Array of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes credit: NASA Size Matters This illustration from nano.gov gives visual examples of the size and the scale of nanotechnology, showing us just how small nanotechnology actually is. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter. In comparison, a human hair is about 100,000 nanometersin diameter. All dimensions are approximate. Nanoparticle is courtesy of the National Center for Electron Microscopy, Lawrence Berkeley Lab, US Department of Energy. Another illustration of size comparison can be found here: “The scale of things"

Buckyballs and Nanotubes A fullerene is any molecule composed entirely of carbon, in the form of a hollow sphere, ellipsoid, or tube. Spherical fullerenes are also called buckyballs, and cylindrical ones are called carbon nanotubes or buckytubes. Because of their unique properties, nanotubes and buckyballs open a path to many futuristic applications. Because of their size, they pose a risk to human health. Buckyballs and Nanotubes Image of Rotating crystal structure of C60 (Buckminister Fullerene). courtesy of Wikimedia Commons How is nanotechnology beingused today? Nanotechnology is being used to make surfaces self-cleaning and stay clean for a long time. Nanotech can be found in cosmetics, sunscreens, clothing and many other consumer products today. Nanotechnology products Types of Nanomaterials Carbon Nanotubes Fullerenes and Buckyballs Dendrimers Fine and Ultrafine Particulates in Air Quantum Dots and Nanocrystals Titanium Dioxide nanoparticles Silver nanoparticles Silver nanowire Other nano-sized particles Ready or not, here it comes. In the next 20 years, nano-technology will touch the life of nearly every person on theplanet. The potential benefits aremind boggling and brain enhancing. But like many of the great advancements in earth's history, it is not without risk. Here are some of the risks posedto society by nanotechnology. Nanotechnology risks Nanobots Nanobots do not exist yet, but when they do, futurists predict possible uses for nanorobots will include molecular manufacturing (nanofactories) and medical nanobots that steer autonomously through your bloodstream making repairs and guarding against infection. Courtesy: www.futureforall.org/ai/artificial intelligence.htm