Nanotehcnology: Fiction Becoming Fact
As I scoured the web this week in search of something that might be interesting to write about, I came across the topic of nanotechnology. Whenever I hear about it I’m always reminded of a “Star Trek: The Next Generation” episode in which Wesley Crusher conducted experiments on Nanites, submicroscopic robots used in non-invasive surgery in a patient. These robots were capable of performing surgery at the cellular level. While that particular incarnation of nanotechnology still may be a ways off, it still boggles my mind that such a science exists that can allow scientists to “see” atoms (see this picture of gold at an atomic level from the Wikipedia article on Nanotechnology — it’s amazing!).
The concept of Nanotechnology has been around since the late 1950s, but the phrase was originally coined by Tokyo Science University Professor Norio Taniguchi in his paper “On the Basic Concept of ‘Nano-Technology’,” published in 1974. He described it as any process manipulating materials by a single atom or molecule. The word is derived from the nanometer, a unit of measure that is one billionth of a meter, about the size of the radius of a DNA double-helix.(1)
However, not only is this science a matter of viewing a material or object at a different size, but being able to observe what properties that material has at that size! Yes, you read that right, a material’s properties change as you observe them from a nano level. For example, at room temperature, pure gold is considered a solid when viewed by the naked eye. If we were to put it under a microscope capable of making observations at the nano scale, then at room temperature gold is a liquid.
It would easily cause me madness if I were to try to comprehend this and other things I’ve read about nanotechnology over the past few days. But it’s clear that being able to not only observe, but understand the quantum mechanics behind this tiny world can have a heavy impact in the world of biotechnology, and opening the door to an understanding of chemical reactions not just at the molecular level, but also at the genetic (DNA) and atomic level.
I think that as science and biotechnology dives deeper into this mysterious inner world of atoms and tiny, now-observable particles, there will be incredible breakthroughs discovered that couldn’t possibly be imagined before. Could we be looking at a cure for cancer, AIDS, or any other of the number of diseases that afflict the human race? Could the veil of secrecy lifted from around basic human functions that we don’t completely understand yet, such as brain function and reproduction? Will it help us to increase our life span? In what other ways would we be able to improve our lives?
Of course, as with any exploration into an unknown field, I believe caution is warranted. There is great potential in studying this technology to help make us better, more efficient biological machines. However, there is just as great a risk that we could cause damage to our fabric as organisms of this planet. In addition, it could further drive a rift between the socioeconomic classes of this planet, dividing people between those who can afford to use nanotechnology to enhance their lives, and those who cannot.
As with any new technological breakthrough, I believe we should chip away to understand the impact of what we’re doing before we strike the dam with a hammer and are flooded with too much information and dangers that we can’t handle. Of course, this is my view with only a basic understanding of the principals behind the field’s potential. What’s your opinion?
(1) Found from the topic “Nanotechnology” in Wikipedia, 2007
