Nanoscale gear

Seen here is a gear that's just 1.2 nanometers in diameter. For comparison, a human hair is about 80,000 nanometers in diameter. Developed by researchers from A*STAR’s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering in Singapore, the gear is reportedly the smallest in the world with controllable rotation. From ScienceDaily:

(Professor Christian) Joachim and his team discovered that the way to successfully control the rotation of a single-molecule gear is via the optimization of molecular design, molecular manipulation and surface atomic chemistry. This was a breakthrough because before the team’s discovery, motions of molecular rotors and gears were random and typically consisted of a mix of rotation and lateral displacement. The scientists at IMRE solved this scientific conundrum by proving that the rotation of the molecule-gear could be well-controlled by manipulating the electrical connection between the molecule and the tip of a Scanning Tunnelling Microscope while it was pinned on an atom axis.

Said Dr Lim Khiang Wee, Executive Director of IMRE, “Christian and his team’s discovery shows that it may one day be possible to create and manipulate molecular-level machines. Such machines may, for example, walk on DNA tracks in the future to deliver therapeutics to heal and cure.

World's First Controllable Molecular Gear At Nanoscale Created

[#1 posted by Ohhhsnap, June 23, 2009 10:35 AM]

Oh, the endless implications this has on the future...

Can't wait.

[#2 posted by Takuan, June 23, 2009 10:41 AM]

yeah, wait for it to escape and meld with the DNA of some bacterium. Robo-Plague here we come!

[#3 posted by Daemon, June 23, 2009 11:14 AM]

Do you realize what this means? Nanoscale steampunk is officially go!

[#4 posted by Anonymous, June 23, 2009 11:50 AM]

As long as it doesn't keep saying "I'll be back" or become governor of some western state, I have no problem with it.

[#5 posted by Werkplace, June 23, 2009 12:25 PM]

@DAEMON Nanoscale Cyberpunk has already released spores that will infect your lousy Steampunk NanoTech with Nipon knockoffs, thus, eliminating any potential markets for your warez.

[#6 posted by 3.14chan, June 23, 2009 1:02 PM]

I just wanna see the nanofactories

[#7 posted by Keneke, June 23, 2009 1:45 PM]

Enough of these nanogears getting smaller and smaller, when will we see them put to use? Even a nano-Rube Goldberg machine would be great.

[#8 posted by HotPepperMan, June 23, 2009 1:45 PM]

The level of 'ignorance' in just a few comments regarding nano-tech is interesting given the readership of BB. There are already nanofactories being used to create nano devices. The changes coming in just a few years are significant from a social, scientific, medical, and technology perspective. Not so much science fiction but more science fantastic.

Yes there are hazards but these are mainly known and are dealt with in controlled environments during fabrication. People should be significantly concerned with things like GMO's (genetically modified organisms) rather than nano.

[#9 posted by Anonymous, June 23, 2009 7:50 PM]

It's a joke.

Anybody who's ever built or fixed anything knows what a tremendous achievement it is to get anything to work for even a few moments. The Machine Plague is not coming any time soon.

[#10 posted by Anonymous, June 24, 2009 2:24 AM]

Ah, after seeing Pepper Man's post on free energy I see where he's coming from. No, sorry, there are no nano factories where nano factory workers make nano products that will soon be available at Nano Mart. Would be cool, but that's not how it works.

[#11 posted by reidh, September 11, 2009 12:02 AM]

I wish to hear someday about Nano scale exploitation of blackholes for use in Time travel. Maybe, If you had a "swarm" of nano-blackholes perhaps the exotic material wouldn't be such a far off dream etc..
I know this is the dreaming of an ignorant schitzoid but its fun.