Nano-turbine is a generator, data-storage medium and molecular printer

OK, so this nanoscale floorwax isn't just a dessert-topping: it's also a nanomolecular printer, a power source, and a digital storage medium:

Similarly, when electrons move through the nanotube turbine, they tend to bounce off its spiral arrangement of carbon rings in a particular direction. This redirects the electrons into a spiral flow, and causes the tube to rotate in the opposite direction...

The Lancaster researchers say their motor could be used to pump atoms and molecules through the spinning middle tube. Multiple pumps could precisely control a chemical reaction, driving atoms in a pattern to engineer new molecules. "It's like a nanoscale inkjet printer," says Lambert.

Atoms pumped through the motor could also be used to represent digital data, with an array of motors shuttling atoms between the 1 and 0 ends of the middle tube to store or process information. This method could store data in a space about 10 times smaller than today's state-of-the-art commercial systems, says Lambert.

Link (via Beyond the Beyond)

[#1 posted by Maurik , June 16, 2008 3:23 AM]

Woot, my university makes it onto BB :D

Lancaster Uni also held the record for lowest sustainable temperature for a long time btw.

[#2 posted by Pasketti , June 16, 2008 5:33 AM]

"That design has as yet only been tested using advanced computer simulations"

Get back to me when there's an actual, physical prototype.

[#3 posted by Chocolatey Shatner , June 16, 2008 6:03 AM]

Shimmer reference FTW.

[#4 posted by Moon , June 16, 2008 6:52 AM]

And it could be used to rip the fabric of time/space revealing the Matrix beyond!!!

But, so far, it's just goes around in circles like a merry-go-round. We're working on that other stuff, though!

[#5 posted by mdhatter , June 16, 2008 8:33 AM]

Welcome to the Diamond Age, young lady.

[#6 posted by Takuan , June 16, 2008 11:28 AM]

I'm confused, how does this scale compared to a microorganism's macromolecular flagellum motor? Is ten times really all the size advantage here over existing storage tech? I would have guessed better.

[#7 posted by ill lich , June 16, 2008 12:06 PM]

If I can't see it, it can't hurt me.

[#8 posted by morehumanthanhuman , June 16, 2008 1:25 PM]

Not so fast #5, you forgot about entropy and random Van der Waals forces.

[#9 posted by santellana , June 16, 2008 2:32 PM]

nanotechnology, i hear that is very big right now.

[#10 posted by eustace , June 16, 2008 8:32 PM]

(rimshot)

[#11 posted by seanboing , June 16, 2008 9:08 PM]

Can you say nanoscale circuit printing? ZOMG!

[#12 posted by Jeff , June 17, 2008 7:26 AM]

Very cool. The Diamond Age indeed. I wonder if this technology will be able to create life? With nano-scale "printing," I don't see why not. Sorta like Charles Stross's A-gates, or Wil McCarthy's Fax machines...