Radio Show Today ++
WNYC - The Leonard Lopate Show - Friday, March 17
Please Explain: Nanotechnology
On this week's Please Explain, we'll learn about nanotechnology: technology on the scale of atoms and molecules that's measured in nanometers (which equal a millionth of a millimeter). Mike Treder, Executive Director of the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology and Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, M.D., Ph.D., Division Chief of Nuclear Medicine at Stanford University's School of Medicine, tell us how nanoscience could change the future of manufacturing.
REPORT (4:00 P.M. EST): I thought the show was very successful, and I've been getting a lot of good feedback. Dr. Sanjiv Sam Gambhir from Stanford (the other guest) was extremely informative, plus he reinforced CRN's message that molecular manufacturing is coming and that it will be revolutionary.
My biggest complaint is that the time went by too fast! Of course, I warned the show's producers in advance that 40 minutes was barely enough time to get started in talking about nanotech.
If you didn't get to hear the show live today, you can still LISTEN ONLINE -- either through streaming audio or MP3 download.
Mike Treder
Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog
I watched the four minute computer animation "Productive Nanosystems: from Molecules to Superproducts." I found it very informative. I can see clearly how a desk top nanofactory can produce a super computer. It appears that a desktop nanofactory can produce anything that is smaller than its size. However I am not clear how a nanofactory would produce a car or a house. Would the nanofactory have to be bigger than the car or house? How exactly would a nanofactory produce a car or a house? I would appreciate it if someone could answer these questions? Thank you
Posted by: George Killoran | March 17, 2006 at 09:49 AM
George:
Think in terms of products that unfold from dense cubes to their final shape. Probably done in retail stores for the most part.
For cars and homes and other larger objects, production will likely be done in a local "construction scale" nanofactory. Homes may still come in a few parts that are stacked on a building site, then unfolded.
Posted by: Tom Craver | March 17, 2006 at 01:21 PM
CNN Saturday March 25 at 7pm EST, and Sunday at the same time "Welcome to the Future" with Douglas Rushkoff, Jeff Greenfield, Ray Kurzweil, Mirka De Arellano, and Margaret Cho.
Posted by: Mike Deering | March 22, 2006 at 07:00 AM
Unfolding is good if your product has a lot of empty space. Inflating with water can increase size, strength, and weight. Multiple self assembling components can be produced which would connect to make a bigger product.
Posted by: Mike Deering | March 22, 2006 at 07:06 AM