Nanotechnology refers to the manipulation of atoms and engineering of molecules to create atomically precise devices. The potential applications of this applied science are truly astounding. These range from advanced materials with custom properties, to computers that are orders of magnitude faster than today's, to medical miracles such as cell repair and the elimination of disease. Many anticipate the arrival of a Diamond Age, an age of abundance and rapid human progress. Nanotechnology research is ongoing and the simplest molecular devices, such as nanotubes, are already becoming commonplace. However, there are many years of work to be done to bridge the gap from these simple devices and basic research to the more sophisticated devices that are envisioned. nanoTITAN is proud to be a part of that effort.

We hope our web site will help you stay current. Check out our nCyclopedia for information about numerous nanotechnology-related topics.

Here's a useful working definition of molecular nanotechnology...

"Molecular nanotechnology: Thorough, inexpensive control of the structure of matter based on molecule-by-molecule control of products and byproducts of molecular manufacturing."

K.Eric Drexler, Chris Peterson, Gayle Pergamit

...and here's a nanotechnology FAQ maintained by the Foresight Institute if you are new to the field:

Adapted by J.Storrs Hall from papers by Ralph C. Merkle and K. Eric Drexler

INTRODUCTION

Nanotechnology is an anticipated manufacturing technology giving thorough, inexpensive control of the structure of matter. The term has sometimes been used to refer to any technique able to work at a submicron scale; Here on sci.nanotech we are interested in what is sometimes called molecular nanotechnology, which means basically "A place for every atom and every atom in its place." (other terms, such as molecular engineering, molecular manufacturing, etc. are also often applied).

Molecular manufacturing will enable the construction of giga-ops computers smaller than a cubic micron; cell repair machines; personal manufacturing and recycling appliances; and much more.

NANOTECHNOLOGY

Broadly speaking, the central thesis of nanotechnology is that almost any chemically stable structure that can be specified can in fact be built. This possibility was first advanced by Richard Feynman in 1959 [4] when he said: "The principles of physics, as far as I can see, do not speak against the possibility of maneuvering things atom by atom." (Feynman won the 1965 Nobel prize in physics).

This concept is receiving increasing attention in the research community. There have been two international conferences directly on molecular nanotechnology[30,31] as well as a broad range of conferences on related subjects. Science [23, page 26] said "The ability to design and manufacture devices that are only tens or hundreds of atoms across promises rich rewards in electronics, catalysis, and materials. The scientific rewards should be just as great, as researchers approach an ultimate level of control - assembling matter one atom at a time." "Within the decade, [John] Foster [at IBM Almaden] or some other scientist is likely to learn how to piece together atoms and molecules one at a time using the STM [Scanning Tunnelling Microscope]."