nanotechnology
/nan'-oh-tek-no"l*-jee/ Any fabrication technology in which objects are designed
and built by the specification and placement of individual atoms or molecules or
where at least one dimension is on a scale of nanometers.
The first unequivocal nanofabrication experiments took place in 1990, for
example with the deposition of individual xenon atoms on a nickel substrate to
spell the logo of a certain very large computer company.
Nanotechnology has been a hot topic in the hacker subculture ever since the term
was coined by K. Eric Drexler in his book "Engines of Creation", where he
predicted that nanotechnology could give rise to replicating assemblers,
permitting an exponential growth of productivity and personal wealth.
See also nanobot.
http://www.lucifer.com/~sean/Nano.html.
(2003-05-02)
Nearby terms:
nanofortnight « nanometre « nanosecond «
nanotechnology
» Napier » NAPLPS » NAPSS
|
