nanotech
Molecule-scale manufacturing field
Nanotech is short for nanotechnology—engineering at the molecular or atomic scale, typically working with structures smaller than 100 nanometers.
The field encompasses manipulating matter to create new materials, devices, and systems with novel properties.
Nanotech appears in medicine, electronics, and materials science: nanotech coatings, nanotech drug delivery.
In science fiction, nanotech often involves tiny self-replicating robots.
Monolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
- fullereneCage-shaped carbon allotrope
- buckyballsSpherical carbon allotropes
- nanoparticlesUltrafine material fragments
- nanofiberUltrathin synthetic strand
nanocomposite · aerogel · biocompatible · piezoelectric · nanowires
Molecular-level medical technology
- nanoroboticsMolecular-scale machine science
- biosensorsDevices detecting via biological reactions
- lab-on-a-chipMiniaturized diagnostic analysis platform
- nanobotsSubmicroscopic robotic devices
Spontaneous structural organization
- nanofabricationCreating nanometer-scale structures
- microfabricationManufacturing miniature structures precisely
- bottom-upStarting from fundamentals
- top-downDirected from highest level
Billionths of meters
- molecularOf tiny particles
- atomicOf elemental particles
- microscopicToo small for eyes
- angstromSubatomic length unit
subatomic · minuscule · infinitesimal · particles · atoms · molecules · precision
Sudden important advance
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
revolutionary · patents · funding · startups · commercialization · DARPA · laboratory · interdisciplinary
Things that make duplicates
- singularityPoint where values explode
- transhumanismTech-augmented evolution philosophy
graphene
Monolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
- fullereneCage-shaped carbon allotrope
- buckyballsSpherical carbon allotropes
- nanoparticlesUltrafine material fragments
nanofiber · nanocomposite · aerogel · biocompatible · piezoelectric · nanowires
nanomedicine
Molecular-level medical technology
- nanoroboticsMolecular-scale machine science
- biosensorsDevices detecting via biological reactions
- lab-on-a-chipMiniaturized diagnostic analysis platform
self-assembly
Spontaneous structural organization
- nanofabricationCreating nanometer-scale structures
- microfabricationManufacturing miniature structures precisely
- bottom-upStarting from fundamentals
nanometers
Billionths of meters
- molecularOf tiny particles
- atomicOf elemental particles
- microscopicToo small for eyes
angstrom · subatomic · minuscule · infinitesimal · particles · atoms · molecules · precision
breakthrough
Sudden important advance
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- developmentProgress toward maturity
cutting-edge · revolutionary · patents · funding · startups · commercialization · DARPA · laboratory · interdisciplinary
replicators
Things that make duplicates
- singularityPoint where values explode
- transhumanismTech-augmented evolution philosophy
- technologyelectronics, computing, computer, internet, social media
- future techAI, drones, robots, autonomous vehicles, VR
- tech culturedevelopers, coders, startup culture, programmers, computers
- emerging techAI, augmented reality, robotics, virtual reality, automation
- Frontier Techquantum computing, AI, biotechnology, robotics, fusion energy
- Nanotechnanoparticle, nanowire, nanorobotics, nanobot, nanodevice
nanotechheavy industry
Capital-intensive manufacturing sector
megastructures · civil engineering · heavy machinery · industrial manufacturing