FNI 1B 1 Pioneers of Nanotechnology

FNI 1B2 Richard P. Feynman A Nobel prize winning physicist who described nanotechnology in his 1959 presentation There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom. “When we get to the very, very small world … we have a lot of new things that would happen that represent completely new opportunities for design … Atoms on a small scale behave like nothing on a large scale, for they satisfy the laws of quantum mechanics.”

FNI 1B3 Computer Activity Read “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” Select a memorable quote from this speech

FNI 1B4 K. Eric Drexler Published Engines of Creation in 1987 Assembler Self assembly Self replication Nanobots

FNI 1B5 What is an assembler?

FNI 1B6 Speculations Sugar Sugar is made of 3 kinds of atoms: Carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. All of these are present in air. So out of thin air we could make sugar if we could control atoms at the atomic level. Sound far fetched? All plants do this especially sugar cane, beets and maple trees.

FNI 1B7 Speculations The universal assembler – Imagine a machine which gives us complete control of matter at the atomic level. Imagine it is about the size and cost of a microwave oven. What are some things we could do with such a device?

FNI 1B8 Everything is Made from Atoms So a general purpose assembler could make things like:  Food  Clothes  Computers  Cars (These would need to be put together.)  Televisions  More assemblers  Just about anything that could fit through the door

FNI 1B9 Discuss some good and bad things about an assembler Online Activity

FNI 1B10 The Good The ability to manipulate matter at the atomic scale could:  Eliminate disease, hunger and aging.  Clean the environment and remove CO 2 from the atmosphere  Protect us from asteroid collisions, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis  Build a space elevator

FNI 1B11 The Bad If replicating assemblers were able to replicate uncontrollably they could turn everything into grey goo. An enemy may create super viruses or other devastating nano weapons. “Nano Bugs” could spy on everything we do. Nano assassins

FNI 1B12 The Foresight Institute defines molecular nanotechnology as: Molecular nanotechnology is the name given to a specific sort of manufacturing technology. As its name implies, molecular nanotechnology will be achieved when we are able to build things from the atom up, and we will be able to rearrange matter with atomic precision. This technology does not yet exist; but once it does, we should have a thorough and inexpensive system for controlling of the structure of matter.

FNI 1B13 Gerd Binnig & Heinrich Rohrer Invented the scanning tunneling microscope or STM which can be used to visualize and manipulate individual atoms.

FNI 1B14 Ernst Ruska Invented the electron microscope in The electron microscope obtains images by scanning the surface of a sample with a beam of electrons.

FNI 1B15 Don Eigler – Xenon on Nickel Was able to manipulate individual atoms using a scanning tunneling microscope.

FNI 1B16 Richard E. Smalley Discovered Buckminsterfullerene a new form of carbon along with Robert Curl and Harry Kroto in Received the noble prize in Chemistry in 1996 for the discovery of fullerenes. Professor at Rice University Died 2005 Research in carbon nanotubes, fullerenes and energy.

FNI 1B17 The Drexler Smalley Debate Read the article at the following web site. Prepare arguments for and against the realization of molecular assemblers. Be prepared to support your argument in class.

FNI 1B18 Sumio Iijima Discovered the carbon nanotube. A single molecule of carbon. 100 times stronger than steel 1/6 the weight Can be conductors or semiconductors

FNI 1B19 Create a timeline for Nanotechnology

FNI 1B20 10 bya 1 bya100 mya10 mya1 mya100 tya 10 tya Nanoscience Timeline 13.7 BYA – 10 TYA 13.7 billion years ago: The first atoms of hydrogen and helium are formed a few seconds after the big bang. ~11 billion years ago: Stars form, producing heavier elements through nuclear fusion. 4.5 billion years ago: Our solar system forms including the Earth. Life emerges shortly afterwards. 245 million years ago: Largest mass extinction in Earth history. 75%-96% of all species die. 65 million years ago: Mass extinction which kills the dinosaurs. 2-4 million years ago: Frequent ice ages begin. 790 thousand years ago: First use of fire by humans. 14 thousand years ago: End of the last ice age.

FNI 1B21 Nanoscience Timeline 8000 BC BC: Earliest record of fermented beverages BC: Significant progress in chemistry in Egypt and China. 460 BC: Empedocles develops the concept of elements. 430 BC: Democritus develops the concept of the atom Anton van Leeuwenhoek develops the optical microscope Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity John Dalton develops his atomic theory Mendeleev introduces his periodic table Wilhelm Roentgen discovers x-rays BC0 250 AD: Maya blue developed Gold nanoparticles used to stain glass red.

FNI 1B22 Nanoscience Timeline 20 th Century 1900 Max Planck Quantum Theory. Carbon black used in tires Einstein’s theory of relativity Rutherford proposes atomic nucleus Ernst Ruska invents the electron microscope Bardeen, Brattain & Schockley develop transistor Crick & Watson propose double helix structure for DNA First images of atoms obtained 1959 Richard Feynman gives “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” speech Binnig & Rohrer invent the scanning tunneling microscope K. Eric Drexler publishes “Engines of Creation.” 1989 Don Eigler spells IBM with his STM Smalley, Curl & Kroto discover fullerenes Sumio Iijima discovers the carbon nanotube

FNI 1B23 Nanoscience Fiction Prey by Michael Crichton Crichton/dp/ /ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books& qid= &sr=8-2 The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson Spectra/dp/ /ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid = &sr=1-1