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Nanomachines: Difference between revisions
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** Nanomedicine: While we have no idea how to make ourselves immortal, superpowered badasses yet, doctors hope nanotechnology has the promise of eventually being able to cure the common cold. And HIV. And Cancer. The tricky part is actually getting the nanites to know what they should attack. This is being worked on mighty well. Nanites engineered to precisely exploit abnormally swollen pores in cancer tissue are in development. Ultra-tiny nanotube-based radio devices are also in development, which would allow for ''remote-controlled'' nanites, but those are somewhat farther away.
** Non-Newtonian liquid suspensions: Basically, funny-shaped particles made by nanoengineering, floating in thick oil. Flexible when subjected to the force of human muscles, but turn ultra-rigid when compressed by something faster. Like a bullet. Body armor that can stop a rifle round that also allows one to do crunches like it wasn't there. It's basically a man-made enhancement of the forces that allow [http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=720f7702c5ab116120e0&page=1&viewtype=&category= John Tickle to walk on custard].
* If you think about it, nanomachines are actually much [[Older Than They Think]], since proteins are essentially naturally occurring nanomachines. They are quite small, and they can accomplish functions like [[wikipedia:Enzyme|facilitating chemical reactions]], [[wikipedia:Na-K-ATPase pump|pumping substances across barriers]], and when working together can even [[wikipedia:Actomyosin|cause macro-scale movement]] of objects.<ref>Without nanomachines, you wouldn't have been able to
** Monoclonal antibodies ''already'' meet most of the criteria for medical nanomachines. Cultivate some that adhere to tumors, stick a radioactive isotope on each one, and turn 'em loose in the body to hunt down their prey like itty bitty Terminators.
** Another impressive example of an existing natural nanomachine is ATP synthase, which makes both the electric motor <ref>specifically, a proton-motive electrostatic motor, complete with armature and stator</ref> ''and'' the reciprocating engine.<ref>the ATP-producing end is basically a 3-cylinder radial engine</ref>
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