Imagine computers the size of a pinhead that are just as powerful as your desktop computer and holds as much or more data.  In fact one is implanted into your brain, and connected to your visual cortex.  You are writing your thesis with your eyes closed lying in your bed at the hospital.  You eventually get bored, so you decide to play a little Solitaire.  With your eyes closed, consequently you fall asleep.  As you sleep there are tiny, smaller than microscopic, probes curing your cancer; you will be back at school in three days.

            All this may soon be possible through the new field of nanotechnology.  I first learned of the fascinating field of nanotechnology through my “Science News” and “Scientific American” magazines, and I could not stop enjoying my imagination wandering through the future.  Nanotechnology will be the new revolution just as computers are now.  In fact nanotechnology is the next level of this technological revolution.  Nanotechnology has, and will continue to accumulate so many applications.  It will be used everywhere, from biomedical research and care, to the miniaturization and improvement of computers.  Just as the space age incited our science fiction imaginations, nanotechnology will forge the next exciting dreams.

            This ultra-powerful miniaturized field seems to be the answer to all of our problems, but what exactly is nanotechnology?  How far will nanotechnology take us? Will it be our savior or our destroyer?  It seems like as new technology is created to fix problems, the consequences are new problems, so what are the downsides to nanotechnology, if any?  The atomic age seemed wonderful in the 1950’s, until the technology got into the hands of the wrong people.  What will happen when the ugly side of nanotechnology appears?  What can be done, and how can we prevent its dissemination, so that this “wonderful” technology does not come into the possession of despots like Saddam Hussein?  How and why is the government involved in nanotechnology?  The reasons to explore nanotechnology seem obvious, but what truly is the reasoning behind this research?  What are the reasons not to explore nanotechnology? 

             Nanotechnology is developing at an exponential rate, so this raises the question how will we find an understanding of nanotechnology? The value of this research is preparation for the near future.  We need to know the risks of nanotechnology, and be aware of changes it will bring in our lives.  Atomic energy has affected our lives dramatically: from international nuclear war, to our domestic energy.  The affects of the atomic revolution, however, are pale in comparison to the future affects of nanotechnology.  This research paper will allow readers to understand nanotechnology, and to be aware of the changes and risks it will bring in the future.

What is Nanotechnology?

What is nanotechnology anyway? Nanotechnology is very difficult to define, as it is a relatively new and developing field, and has so many different applications.  However the simplest definition is the manipulation of molecules and the atoms to create atomic-size structures that function mechanically, and/or chemically.  A nanometer is one billionth of a meter (“History of Nanotechnology”).  The technology consists of both the manufacturing process, and the application.  K. Eric Drexler first coined the word ‘nanotechnology’ in 1986 in his book Engines of Creation.  Drexler is known as the father of nanotechnology, and was a student of Richard Feynman who was the first to mention the idea of manipulating matter at the atomic level (“Nano-Definition”).

Richard Feynman gave a lecture at the California Institute of Technology titled “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” in 1959.  He basically addressed the idea that physics does not dismiss the idea that synthetic influences can manipulate matter atom by atom (“History of Nanotechnology”).

Years after Drexler wrote his book, Engines of Creation, he received a doctorate from MIT in the field of nanotechnology in 1991.  The next year he wrote another book titled, Nanosystems: Molecular Machinery, Manufacturing and Computation.  It includes a large array of complex subjects concerning nanotechnology.  The book is about approaches to take toward manufacturing the nanomachines, and formulating a system to use the machines for processing in computers and the other applications (“History of Nanotechnology”). 

Computers are a big part of the developing nanotechnology.  As described in the article “The Incredible Shrinking Circuit”, by Charles M. Lieber in special issue of Scientific American on nanotechnology, computers consist of three main parts: transistors, wires, and the architecture of the all the components.  A transistor is basically a switch that is either on or off, which creates a fundamental language.  Computers today use semiconductors to control the flow of electrons.  In nanotechnology, a transistor might be a large, (or small) organic or inorganic molecule that in one form signifies the on position, and another signifies to off position (60).  Organic compounds have properties that allow them to take different forms.  One way that a molecule might work as a switch would be a chemical reaction.  The molecule would allow electrons to pass, but a chemical reaction, oxidation-reduction, would “open” or “close” the molecule. 

There are also tiny inorganic nano-wires that carry signals between components.  They pass much more current than conventional wires, and they can also function as a transistor.  The larger organic transistors are difficult to manipulate into the on or off positions, but these mini wire/transistors behave much like the standard semiconductor chips used in computers today.  This makes it much easier to create and apply them, and as the function both as a wire and a transistor, it kills two birds with one stone.  However, as with most new things, there is a drawback; transistor/wires work only in extremely low temperatures.  Cees Dekker and his colleagues at the Delft university of Technology in the Netherlands overcame this obstacle in 1997.  They used an atomic force microscope to manipulate the electron to make the transistor work (Lieber 61). 

An atomic force microscope is a scanning device to provide a picture of atoms.  It works by a tip connected to a cantilever that is repelled or attracted to the surface being scanned.  A laser detects the magnitude of the deflections of the cantilever to provide a topographical picture of the surface.  It is easily understood how a device such as this can be used to physically manipulate atoms (atomic force microscope).

A nano wire that does not function as a transistor is a nanotube.  Nanotubes essentially operate as wires by giving electrons a guided path.  Nanotubes are usually made of carbon chains that look like a long, rolled up chicken wire tube.  In 1991, Sumio Iijima from the NEC Fundamental Research Laboratory discovered tiny nanoscopic threads that are now known to be nanotubes.  Electrons behave like waves (and as particles), and for nanotubes, only certain frequencies of electrons may pass through.  The frequency depends on the diameter of the nanotube (Collins 62). 

Researchers and scientists are on their way to making transistors and wires at the nanoscale level, however connecting and assembling the two into a useable state is very difficult. Currently scientists can connect the nano devices to conventional metallic wires, however this defeats the purpose of have nano scale devices. The fundamental problem is making a good electrical connection between the tiny devices and the nanowires.  The solution to this problem is to use only nanotubes and create layers of arrays.  Each intersection acts as a nanodevice.  If the two layers touch it is considered the on position and visa versa (Lieber 63).

Along with electrical nano computers, there are also non-electrical computers.  There are developments in the use of DNA for computing.  This idea began in 1994 by computer scientist Leonard M. Adleman.  DNA is formed from two long strands with sequences of four different molecules: Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C).  Different combinations of these molecules form a sequence of ons and offs creating the computer language.  However this idea faces many problems. How can DNA sequences be integrated into an electrical system for some applicable use?  Also there is a high rate of error in the matching of the base pairs (Lieber 62). 

Going back to nanotubes, they have many other uses. One amazing property of nanotubes is that light emits from them under a voltage.  Scientists have grown nanotubes to metal wires and placed them in a glass cylinder with a phosphorus coating.  When a voltage is applied, the nanotubes emit electrons, and when they hit the phosphorus, they cause a glowing effect.  It is a lot like fluorescent light bulbs, except the quality is better.  These nanolights contain no toxic chemicals found in fluorescent bulbs such as mercury, and they light instantly.  The only flaw is that they use ten times the amount of electric power as the fluorescent bulbs (Gorman 335). Nanotubes are also arranged into panels like current fluorescent panels (Collins 66).     

In addtion to nanotubes, there are many other nano scale structures.  There are tiny gear-like structures that are called buckytubes.  These are essentially nanotubes with single carbon sticking out all around the tube to act as teeth like those of a gear.  As motors drive gears there are also nano motors.  These tinny motors are almost exactly like current motors. They are concentric tubes that are polarized so that there are both north and south sides, much as a magnet.  In a regular motor, the axel spins due to the current that passes through it. This causes the electromagnet to alternate between north and south.  Opposite charges attract and similar charges repel. Outside the center axis is a magnet that is half positively charged and half negatively charged.  When the inner rod alternates orientation, there is a constant cycle of repellent and attractive forces that turns the motor.  In a molecular motor, two lasers pulse alternately to change the charge of the inner tube. The outside tube has stable polarization. This creates an effect that is the same as in a real motor.  These structures will continue to be heavily used in the manufacture of other nano structures as well (“nanomachines”).  

More advanced nanostructures will be used biologically.  One of the leading biological developments is the use of nanotechnology to cure cancer.  Cancer is formed when the DNA in cells is manipulated, programming it to grow cells rapidly and randomly.  When a cell is damaged like this, it attaches a chemical to the outside called “CD-95”.  What bionanotechnologist plan to do is create nanoparticles that will detect this chemical and bond to it.  If the damage is severe, the nano molecule will send enzymes into the cells to initiate the auto destruct function known as apoptosis.  If it is not severely damaged, this structure will send enzymes in to fix the cell, and reprogram the DNA (Barry).

In the near future nanotechnology will be heavily used in the field of space exploration.  Outside the earth’s protective atmosphere, radiation easily penetrates space vessels and suites of astronauts.  This radiation destroys all molecules in its path.  Nano structures will be implanted in the astronauts to repair damaged cells.  This will be very important when we begin to explore mars and other parts of space away from the earth’s protection (Barry).

Cryonics is the science or idea of freezing terminally ill patients so that they can be thawed when a cure is found for their disease.  The problem with thawing the patients is, due to the freezing of water in the cells, the ice crystals shred them.  Nanotechnology is thought to be a solution to this problem.  Tiny nanorobots can be built that will go throughout the body repairing these damaged cells (Guynn).

Ethics of Nanotechnology

This talk of using nanotechnology to improve and extend human life can get some people riled up over.  What are the issues against nanotechnology?  One of the main concepts of nanotechnology is self-replicating nanobots.  What will the world be like if the robots got out of hand? The dream is to have robots that will do work for us.  But with any new technology there are always draw backs that come with the good things.

Look at nuclear technology.  A powerful and when controlled, an environmentally friendly source.  Now the use of nuclear power plants has caused melt downs that ruin the environment and challenged the health of society.  Before there were power plants, the atomic bomb was made. Since then, it has been a constant threat to the survival of the human race.  There are a lot of wrong people who have the power to use the technology.

Nanotechnology is not to this point, but it has the potential.  The cofounder and chief scientist of Sun Microsystems, Bill Joy, has a lot to say about this.  Unlike nuclear technology, nanobots will have the potential to be intelligent.  They could evolve on their own and eventually be more powerful than us humans.  Their rate of replication will be very fast compared to humans and the rest of earth (“Forfeiting”).

Also, when the processes of the manufacturing of nanotechnology is understood, is will be very easy to access materials and information.  We are scared of bio and chemical terrorism; imagine what tiny intelligent and destructive robots can do.  Nanotechnology could just have a multiplying affect to the complexities of our current problems with our technology (“Forfeiting”).

How does biological enhancement affect our consciences? There are many issues of cloning and genetic engineering.  If we were to drastically change our human form with genetic engineering and nanotechnology enhancement, we would be threatening our equality.  At first thought, it seems improving ourselves so that we can live longer and “better” lives is a good thing, but after more thought, we begin to realize that our consciences are threatened (“Forfeiting”).

Richard E. Smalley says that Nanobots will not be able to be used as tiny assemblers in nanostructure factories.  Richard E. Smalley is the Gene and Norman Hackerman Professor of Chemistry and Physics at Rice University, and received the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of fullerenes.  The reason for this impossibility according to Smalley is they cannot produce fast enough.  He goes on further to say that if it were possible, how would we control them?  What if they mutate and develop the ability to communicate (Smalley). 

Nanotechnology is a very important part of our lives, and it will only continue to increase in importance.  It is going to affect almost all aspects of our lives in the near future.  The computer race is going to be completely revolutionized with smaller, more powerful devices and an explosion of new applications that are only in science fiction.  But how will society be educated on nanotechnology? How is going to be supported? What is the government’s involvement?

How is Nanotechnology doing, and what’s in store for the future?

            There are many large agencies forming all over the United States in support for nanotechnology.  One of the major groups is the National Nanotechnology Initiative.  It offers information and links to many other organizations.  It is proof that there is a lot of enthusiasm for nanotechnology and just about every science organization is in support of it (nanotechnology initiative).

            Even Bill Clinton supported nanotechnology during his time in office.  On January 21, 2000 the press secretary announced that Clinton requested a $227 million (84%) increase in nanotechnology government funding for the 2001 fiscal year budget.  On Feb. 7, 2002, bush called for a 17% increase in nanotech funding to $679 million.  The reason for Bush to do so is probably the help it can bring to his Homeland security policy like a preventive of anthrax and other biological and chemical threats (Ewalt).

Conclusion

            The questions concerning what nanotechnology I think were addressed well.  I see the main purpose of this paper as informing readers of as many aspects of nanotechnology as possible, so the underlying question throughout the research is what is nanotechnology?  This is why most of the research is about nanotechnology directly.  There are, however, other important questions besides what is nanotechnology that contribute the informing readers of nanotechnology.  They include the ethical and logistical sides.  This research is a little slim in comparison to the research about nanotechnology directly, but these sides are address in a reasonable amount.

            The big question that is not addressed in this research is what is going to happen next in nanotechnology?  This is a difficult question to address since we cannot predict the future.  Future research will have to do with preparation for the future by predicting as well as possible the future of nanotechnology.

            I have tried to present research with the least amount of fallacies, however it is near impossible.  I am sure there are more points of view from which I have presented, but I do not see all points of view.  Bias is impossible to eliminate, but I have tried to see through the bias as much as possible by finding opposing points of view to find equilibrium. I have researched the aspects of nanotechnology that I see important, I am sure with more experience I will discover many more where I can expand my research.

            I encountered many roadblocks during my research.  They include finding information of the ethics of nanotechnology, and the current state and future of nanotechnology.  Nanotechnology seems to be a largely positive subject with a few advocates.  I could find many websites on nanotechnology, but it was difficult to sort the information. Also, there were not very many books.  I was able to find one book by Eric Drexler titled Nanosystems: Molecular Machinery, Manufacturing and Computation, but it contains complex math and intense analysis. I was able to overcome this by finding massive amounts of magazine articles.  I think this is because nanotechnology is a relatively new concept, so as news comes out about it, it is heavily in demand, and there has not been enough time yet to formulate a book.

            It is difficult to determine what I will do in the next phase of research since nanotechnology is dealt with large corporations and businesses.  I imagine it will be something to do with make people aware of nanotechnology much like the research that I have presented, but in a much more proactive fashion.

            Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter atom by atom.  It applications include computers, miniaturization of machines known as molecular machines, and a strong biological influence.  The application continues to increase.  There is no doubt that nanotechnology will affect every person and every field of study.  The majority of the initial reactions are positive, but we cannot neglect the hazards and ignore our consciences.   There are many issues to deal with. We do not want to have the nuclear dilemma occur all over again, no to say that it is over.  We need to understand the sides involved and be prepared for the future.   We need to look at human nature and figure out how to continue the development of nanotechnology while preserving our survival, our plant, and our spirits.