Tutorial review of artificial molecular machines
Foresight Update 25.01—January 8, 2012
ISSN 1078-9731
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For Fraser Stoddart's roadmap for development of artificial molecular machine systems and winning of the Foresight Institute Feynman Grand Prize, see the story below titled "Tutorial review of the promise of artificial molecular machines".
Discuss these news stories at http://foresight.org/nanodot.
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An important milestone in the development of nanotechnology leading to atomically precise manufacturing (molecular manufacturing) is the development of artificial molecular machines that can control molecular transformations. Two scientists from the University of Groningen, Netherlands, published a paper in Science [abstract] earlier this year demonstrating control of a chemical reaction by an artificial molecular machine. …
… to learn what the authors think about the prospects of eventually doing atomically precise manufacturing with artificial molecular machine systems.
The authors begin with the observation that, despite “remarkable progress” in synthesizing molecular switches, there have been only few and very rudimentary examples of harvesting useful work from such molecular switches. They then ask whether only incremental progress will be necessary for artificial molecular machines to achieve the levels of function so elegantly achieved by biological molecular machines, or whether some paradigm shift in thinking will be necessary (they believe the latter). …
New computer assisted design (CAD) tools for engineering RNA components have been developed for the growing field of synthetic biology. The knowledge of RNA folding and RNA catalytic and binding functions incorporated into these CAD tools may also prove useful for RNA nanotechnology. …
A few months ago the use of designed peptides to build supramolecular structures on surfaces was reported. Another group has now reported making two-dimensional atomically precise sheets using peptoids, a class of peptide mimetics in which the side chain is attached to the backbone nitrogen atom instead of to the alpha carbon atom. …
Foresight Co-Founder and Past President: Christine L. Peterson was interviewed in the magazine “Future by Semcon”, published by Semcon, “a global technology company active in the areas of engineering services and product information.” The four-page article “Infinite nanotech possibilities” … presents a very succinct and easy overview of the current state and future potential of nanotechnology. …
The repertoire of potentially useful molecular switches continues to grow as the components that do the switching shrink. A team of German physicists has used a single electron from the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope to transfer a single proton among one of four not quite equivalent positions in the inner cavity of a porphyrin molecule anchored to a silver surface. …
The application to colloidal nanoparticles of traditional chemical techniques for controlled corrosion and plating has produced complex multicomponent three-dimensional nanostructures that, while not atomically precise, exhibit a wide range of designed porous and multichamber nanostructures. …
A tutorial review … asks whether artificial molecular machines can deliver the performance that visionaries expect. …
—Nanodot posts by James Lewis.
Foresight Events – Lectures
Panel: Tour of the Human Condition-Life
January 19, 2012
Palo Alto, California
Christine Peterson will be a panelist for the "Life" panel of "An Interdisciplinary Tour of the Human Condition in Three Stages: Time, Life, and Mind".
Advancements in technologies such as nanotech, robotics, and biotech are promising to make major differences in our lives in the not-too-distant future, as the Industrial Revolution did to the agrarian world — to do for the physical world what the computer and Internet have done to the world of information.
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NanoManufacturing Conference & Exhibits 2012
March 28-29, 2012
Boston, MA USA
This conference highlights the current and near-term applications of nanotechnology and how they are transforming the way we manufacture products.
Personalized Life Extension 2012
March 31-April 1, 2012
S. San Francisco, CA USA
This conference explores actions we can take today to extend our healthy lifespans. Implementing nanotechnology fully will take decades — come find out how to stay healthy enough to help! Use code FORESIGHT for $100 discount.
9th Annual Conference: Foundations of Nanoscience
Self-Assembled Architectures and Devices
April 16-19, 2012
Snowbird, Utah USA
Foundations of Nanoscience is a yearly conference on foundations of nanoscience, maintaining the highest scientific standards. Self-assembly is the central theme of the conference.
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February 12-15 2012
Chamonix, France
The aim of the Sixth International Precision Assembly Seminar is to discuss the rapidly evolving field of micro-assembly, including the development of microfactories and microsystem fabrication.
Nanotech Conference & Expo, 2012
June 18-21, 2012
Santa Clara, CA USA
Join us in Santa Clara for the world's largest gathering of nanotechnology experts. In our 15th year, come network with over 4,000 participants and 300 exhibitors and be part of this incredible global innovation community.
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