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Background | FAQs | People | Research |
Glossary
| Add to the Guide Brad Hein's Nanotechnology Site
Background | FAQs |
People | Research
| Glossary
| Add to the Guide
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Assembler: A general-purpose device for molecular manufacturing capable of guiding chemical reactions by positioning molecules [DPP91].
Atom: The smallest unit of a chemical element, about a third of a nanometer in diameter. Atoms make up molecules and solid objects [DPP91].
Atomic Force Microscope (AFM): An instrument able to image surfaces to molecular accuracy by mechanically probing their surface contours. A kind of proximal probe [DPP91]. An AFM works by bringing the tip of a scanning needle in contact with a sample surface (the needle has a downward force exerted on it by a spring-like cantilever mechanism)[TERRA]. The AFM then measures the tiny upward and downward motions of the tip mechanism as it drags the tip over the surface.
Automated Engineering: Engineering design done by a computer system, generating detailed designs from broad specifications with little or no human help [DPP91].
Automated manufacturing: Nanotechnology based manufacturing requiring little human labor [DPP91].
Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms, about one micrometer (one thousand nanometers) across [DPP91].
Bulk technology: Technology in which atoms and molecules are manipulated in bulk rather than individually [DPP91].
Cell: A small structural unit surrounded by a membrane, making up living things [DPP91].
Cell pharmacology: Delivery of drugs by medical nanomachines to exact locations in the body [DPP91].
Cell surgery: Modifying cellular structures using medical nanomachines [DPP91].
Disassembler: An instrument able to take apart structures a few atoms at a time, recording structural information at each step [DPP91].
DNA: A molecule encoding genetic information, found in the cell's nucleus [DPP91].
Ecosystem protector: A nanomachine for mechanically removing selected imported species from an ecosystem to protect native species [DPP91].
Enabling science and technologies: Areas of research relevant to a particular goal, such as nanotechnology [DPP91].
Enzymes: Molecular machines found in nature, made of protein, which can catalyze (speed up) chemical reactions [DPP91].
Exploratory engineering: Design and analysis of systems that are theoretically possible but cannot be built yet, owing to limitations in available tools [DPP91].
Gray goo: See Star Trek scenario [DPP91].
Immune machines: Medical nanomachines designed for internal use, especially in the bloodstream and digestive tract, able to identify and disable intruders such as bacteria and viruses [DPP91].
Limited assembler: Assembler capable of making only certain products; faster, more efficient, and less liable to abuse than a general-purpose assembler [DPP91].
Molecular electronics: Any system with atomically precise electronic devices of nanometer dimensions, especially if made of discrete molecular parts rather than the continuous materials found in today's semiconductor devices [DPP91].
Molecular machine: Any machine with atomically precise parts of nanometer dimensions; can be used to describe molecular devices found in nature [DPP91].
Molecular manipulator: A device combining a proximal-probe mechanism for atomically precise positioning with a molecule binding site on the tip; can serve as the basis for building complex structures by positional synthesis [DPP91].
Molecular manufacturing: Manufacturing using molecular machinery, giving molecule-by-molecule control of products and by-products via positional chemical synthesis [DPP91].
Molecular medicine: A variety of pharmaceutical techniques and therapies in use today [DPP91].
Molecular nanotechnology: Thorough, inexpensive control of the structure of matter based on molecule-by-molecule control of products and by-products; the products and processes of molecular manufacturing, including molecular machinery [DPP91].
Molecular recognition: A chemical term referring to processes in which molecules adhere in a highly specific way, forming a large structure; an enabling technology for nanotechnology [DPP91].
Molecular surgery or molecular repair: Analysis and physical correction of molecular structures in the body using medical nanomachines [DPP91].
Molecular systems engineering: Design, analysis, and construction of systems of molecular parts working together to carry out a useful purpose [DPP91].
Molecule: Group of atoms held together by chemical bonds; the typical unit manipulated by nanotechnology [DPP91].
Nano-: A prefix meaning one billionth (1/1,000,000,000) [DPP91].
Nanocomputer: A computer with parts built on a molecular scale [DPP91].
Nanoelectronics: Electronics on a nanometer scale, whether made by current techniques or nanotechnology; includes both molecular electronics and nanoscale devices resembling today's semiconductor devices [DPP91].
Nanomachine: An artificial molecular machine of the sort made by molecular manufacturing [DPP91].
Nanomanufacturing: Same as molecular manufacturing [DPP91].
Nanosurgery: A generic term including molecular repair and cell surgery [DPP91].
Nanotechnology: See Molecular nanotechnology [DPP91].
Positional synthesis: Control of chemical reactions by precisely positioning proteins; the basic principle of assemblers [DPP91].
Protein design, protein engineering: The design and construction of new proteins; an enabling technology for nanotechnology [DPP91].
Proximal probes: A family of devices capable of fine positional control and sensing, including scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopes (STMs and AFMs); an enabling technology for nanotechnology [DPP91].
Replicator: A system able to build copies of itself when provided with raw materials and energy [DPP91].
Ribosome: A naturally occurring molecular machine that manufactures proteins according to instructions derived from the cell's genes [DPP91].
Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM): An instrument able to image conducting surfaces to atomic accuracy; has been used to pin molecules to a surface [DPP91]. The STM works by applying a very small voltage to the tip and causing a small quantum mechanical tunneling current to jump the gap between the tip and the sample. This current is then used to create a topographical map of the surface (a feedback circuit controls the tip to minimize current variations, and this information is used for the map). Increasing the voltage enables a researcher to move atoms around, pile them up, or trigger chemical reactions [NCSASTM].
Sealed assembler lab: A general-purpose assembler system in a container permitting only energy and information to be exchanged with the environment [DPP91].
Smart materials and products: Materials and products capable of relatively complex behavior due to their incorporation of nanocomputers and nanomachines. Also used for products having some ability to respond to their environment [DPP91].
Star Trek scenario: Someone builds potentially dangerous self-replicating devices that spread disastrously [DPP91].
Virtual reality system: A combination of computer and interface devices (goggles, gloves, etc.) that present a user with the illusion of being in a three dimensional world of computer-generated objects [DPP91]. These three dimensional environments and force-feedback systems can aid in the visualization of complex molecules [AB].
Virus: A parasite (consisting primarily of genetic material) that invades cells and takes over their molecular machinery in order to copy itself [DPP91].
Sources:
DPP91. Unbounding
the Future by K. Eric
Drexler, Chris Peterson, and Gayle Pergamit (Morrow, 1991)
ISBN: 0-688-09124-5
NCSASTM. NCSA STM Definition Page.
TERRA. Atomic and Molecular Scale Manipulation Using the Scanneling Tunneling and Atomic
Force Microscope by Richard Terra
AB.Silicon Mirage: The Art and Science of Virtual Reality by Steve Aukstakalnis
and David Blatner
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