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Nanotube Memory

Nanotechnology materials are being used to create super-dense, rapid-access Nanotube Memory (NM) for computers. Nanotube memory is expected to be one or more orders of magnitude denser and faster than current flash memory. For composites and products in a lot of disciplines, consisting of circuitry and medicine, being littler is often better.  Smaller electronic circuits can perform more calculations with reduced energy constraints.  Smaller medical devices will likely engage with tissue in the human body at a molecular level for more fine-tuned diagnosis and focused elimination of malady.   For these reasons, there is evolving attention in the discipline of nanotechnology -- technology that deals with objects that are very, very microscopic.  A nanometer is only one billionth of a meter, a length into which one can only place approximately 10 atoms. Nanotechnology will generally be defined as the science of generating and assembling objects on a dimension littler than one hundred nanometers.  The end results of nanotechnology might be very small particles (in powders, emollient or coatings) or macro-scale objects with nano-scale parts and special attributes.  The ultimate vision for nanotechnology is the potential to create virtually any material or thing from scratch.  More basic nanotechnology applications involve enhancement in an incremental way -- producing tinier and faster electronic circuits, guided medicine delivery systems, cleaner clothes, stronger tennis rackets, brighter paints, and various incremental applications. Objects assembled using nanotechnology often have highly specialized characteristics such as super conductivity, high strength relative to their weight, low friction, high thermal insulation properties, targeted beam frequency selectivity, quantum effects, extreme water repellence, and self-assembling geometric patterns such as nanotubes, nanospheres and nanoctagons.  See additionally Nanotherapeutics. When the foundational concepts of nanotechnology were first expressed, they were frequently greeted with polarized views -- visionary optimism or forehead-furrowed cynicism.  Visionary optimists envisioned compact hardware making us anything we want from yesterday's rubbish, like the replicators in “Star Trek.”  Cynics could not view beyond the lack of implements for molecular level manufacturing at the time and they discounted the thought as fantasy.  Since then, tools such as the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) have been developed to assemble matter at the nanoscale level.  There is now a growing middle ground of investigators and manufacturers who are forming basic, but useful, nano-tech products and services. Click on likenesses for nanotechnology theme T-shirts and sweatshirts: Before further discussion of nanotechnology products and services, we should provide an overview of the rudimentary geometry of various nanostructures.  Nanocomposites blend elements such as polymers and ceramics in a blended mixture of nano size proportions. Nanospheres and nanocircles are circular structures, between 1-100 nanometers in dimension, that are used to -- absorb, transport, and diffuse matter; absorb and reflect specific wavelengths of light or other energy; and perform as microscopic ball bearings for low-friction coatings.  Nanocrystals are the general term for complex, polygonal nanostructures that are grown rather than assembled atom by atom. Nanocrystals can have high strength and low weight compared to customary elements. Nanocrystals will likely additionally have unique electromechanical attributes and produce light from electricity with more efficiency than incandescent lights.  Nanotubes, one category of nanocrystals, are made of one or more curved, hollow, cylindrical carbon micro-scale materials with hexagonal, octagonal, or circular caps.  Quantum dots are a version of nanocrystal with separate energy states at the atomic level.  Quantum dots can emit a much narrower band of wavelengths than they absorb.  See also Virtual Trade. Nanomanufacturing is the use of mechanical, chemical, or alternative physical processes at the nanoscale dimension to directly create, or indirectly direct the crystalline bringing together of, atoms and molecules into intricate materials and commodities.  These materials include nanoparticles, nanoshells, nanopolymers, nanotubes, nanoctagons and nanowires. Nanomachines are miniature, man-made electro-mechanical instruments that operate on a perspective of under 100 nanometers.  Nanomachines may be: (1) formed piece by piece through direct direction by humans; (2) grown or self-assembled like crystals in specifically-designed micro-environments; (3) assembled by other nano-machines; or made through some blend of these three means.  Nanomachines that may work together in a synergistic manner and are capable of reproduction are called nanobots.  Also see -- nanoTITAN. What differentiates tools from living things?  Nanotechnology is moving in the direction of the generation of microscopic machines that will likely interact with life science tissue on an atomic level, adapt to their biosphere, and even reproduce.  Will these instruments be alive despite their mechanical origin?  DNA is now being used as part of biologic calculators.  Is DNA used in this way part of an instrument despite its living origin?  The borders between nanotechnology and biotechnology are blurring.  Hybrid machine/organisms give rise to more questions than answers.  Also interesting, Virtual Reality. In the telecommunications sector, nanotechnology will play an important role in the coming years particularly with respect to fiber optics.  Nanocrystalline materials will likely be made with finer resolution than standard fibers for enhanced optic cables, switches, lenses and junctions.  In telecommunications more usually, the sectors of nanotechnology and holotechnology will overlap in the development of the projection screens and user interfaces of the next generations of holographic cell phones, “Holographones,” and televisions, “HoloTVs.” Click on images for nanotechnology theme T-shirts and sweatshirts: Many human illnesses and injuries have their origins in nanoscale processes.  Accordingly, implementation of nanotechnology to the practice of medicine and biomedical analysis opens up new opportunities to treat illnesses, repair injuries, and refine human functioning beyond what is possible with macroscale techniques.  At the nano size level, the distinctions between mechanical and biologic processes blend.  Nanoparticles can attach to certain cells or tissues and yield medical images of their location and design.  Hollow nanocapsules with biological compound contents can attach to cancer cells and release their payloads into them – maximizing targeted delivery and minimizing systemic side effects.  Nanomedibots may repair vital tissue damanged by injury or sickness, or destroy cancerous tissue that has gone awry, without invasive surgery.  And NEOP 2002. Invivo “labs on a chip” can: monitor body temperature, pulse, heart rhythm, blood pressure, blood flow, oxygenation, and glucose stage; perform multiple tests for DNA matching; or recognize pathogens, toxins, and cancerous cells.  In addition to monitoring body functions, implantable or prosthetic nanodevices will potentially also restore or upgrade body function.  For example, polymers that modification configuration in response to chemical or electrical stimuli may be used to create artificial muscle tissue. Click on images for nanotechnology theme T-shirts and sweatshirts: Inquiries about this material and the domain NanotubeMemory.com may be sent to: NanotubeMemory.com © 2004-2006 by NanotubeMemory.com