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Nanotechnology Harnesses the Power of Light

Posted by michael on from the synthetic-photosynthesis dept.

madirish2600 writes "There's a Washington Post story running about some German scientists who have used light to create a nanotechnology spring. 'Scientists have for the first time used the power of light to create mechanical energy for a microdevice, making a single molecule of plastic drive a tiny machine.'"

2 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. Info about Nanotechnology... by dwheeler · · Score: 5, Informative
    Presumably many readers know a little about nanotechnology, but in case you're looking for beginning information about it, here are a few places to look:
    1. Nanotechplanet's Nanotechnology FAQ
    2. Foresight's FAQ about Molecular Nanotechnology
    3. Richard Feynman's ``There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom'' (an old classic that essentially started the field).
    4. Engines of Creation (by K. Eric Drexler, Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1986)
    --
    - David A. Wheeler (see my Secure Programming HOWTO)
  2. Memory by jhines0042 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    By shining one frequency of light on the device, the team was able to crimp the molecule, causing it to pull the diving board downward - converting light into mechanical energy. When another light frequency was used, the molecule relaxed.

    Not quite sure, but if the molecule stays in the kinked or relaxed state absent all light, could they not mount little mirrors on top that would swivel and then use this tech as a massive, persistent, extremely fast, storage mechanism? Sort of like a re-writeable CD but in solid state?

    --
    42 - So long and thanks for all the fish.