Applications of Nanotechnology
Today's nanotechnology harnesses current progress in chemistry, physics, materials science, and biotechnology to create novel materials that have unique properties because their structures are determined on the nanometer scale. Some of these materials have already found their ways into consumer products, such as sun screens and stain-resistant pants. Others are being intensively researched for solutions to humanity's greatest problems — diseases, clean energy, clean water, etc. Other work is aimed at developing a roadmap for productive nanosystems, in which a path is sought from today's nanotechnology capabilities to advanced future systems in which molecular tools will build useful materials, devices, and complex systems to atomic precision. The products of advanced nanotechnology that will become available in coming decades promise even more revolutionary applications than the products of current and near-term nanotechnology.
Current and Near-Term
Foresight has identified six Foresight Nanotechnology Challenges in which current and near-term nanotechnology is providing hope for solving critical challenges facing humanity.
Since June of 2005, the Foresight Nanotech Institute Weekly News Digest has provided news on progress toward meeting each of the six Foresight Nanotechnology Challenges.
Applications of Advanced Systems
The products of molecular manufacturing, which will include microscopic robots and large complex systems, all manufactured to atomic precision, will transform many areas of life, including medicine, the exploration and colonization of space, and efforts to protect and restore the Environment.
Medicine
Space Development
- Chapter 6 of Engines of Creation: "The World Beyond Earth" presents the potential of nanotechnology to harvest asteroidal resources and build space habitats. An earlier essay, "Space Development: The Case Against Mars" by K. Eric Drexler, argues that colonies on planets are not the best use of space resources.
- Molecular Manufacturing Shortcut Group: A Chapter of the National Space Society
- "Some Novel Space Propulsion Systems", by Forrest Bishop, presented at the Fifth Foresight Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology.
- "Implications of Molecular Nanotechnology Technical Performance Parameters on Previously Defined Space System Architectures", by Tom McKendree, presented at the Fourth Foresight Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology.
- "The Logical Core Architecture", by Tom McKendree, presented at the Fifth Foresight Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology.
- "Space, Nanotechnology, and Techno-Worries" by Glenn H. Reynolds, published in Ad Astra and available as a PDF download (requires ACROBAT READER by ADOBE).
The Environment and Resources
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