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Algae Can Carry Cargo
Steve Nixon writes "Recently, a team of scientists devised a way to make single-celled algae bear loads over distances of several centimeters--a tactic that the researchers say could prove useful in tiny machines. Algae and other single-celled organisms power their movements with molecular motors. 'Scientists have long coveted these motors for use in micromachinery,' notes chemist Douglas B. Weibel of Harvard University.
and go on strike. Can't you just see the little picket signs circling around the pond?
And stoners can again get pizza and Mountain Dew delivered directly to their sofa by this tireless algae crew (better than the old slime molds that used to do the job!)
I'm getting married Sept 17th and will need help moving furniture and boxes of geek books...
my geeklog
The manufacturing facility for more cargo carriers is a vat with some nutrients and sunlight. What's your simpler assembly line look like?
... but can you get a teensy, tiny corporate logo on their sides?
Dog is my co-pilot.
I, for one, welcome our new cargo-carrying slaves.
But the real question is if they can make tiny pyramids.
Old and busted: TCP/IP
New Hotness: TCP Over Algae!
unless they get a strong union like the Teamsters.
....
Just imagine a picket line of these guys
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
They for one welcome their new light emitting, load passing overlords.
EvilCON - Made Famous by
There is an interview with chemist George Whitesides, one of the authors of the paper in question, at sciencefriday.com for those interested.
Dowload the show http://www.sciencefriday.com/ or the podcast on date 8-19 with George Whitesides. He is the administrative lead of the project and he talks about other interesting things besides Algae toting around loads.
-FlynnMP3
PETA = People for the Ethical Treatment of Algae
Recently, a team of scientists devised a way to make single-celled algae bear loads over distances of several centimeters
With this kind of gas prices any help we get will be appreciated. Thanks Algae. I have a request, Could you please carry me and my car to the work everyday?
To be honest, this particular piece of research is almost a footnote in his career. Most of the things he does will never end up in something the average person ever comes into contact with, but the salient ideas will change the landscape of technology 20 years down the road. If you're at all interested in nanoscience, this is a guy to watch.
Go down to the shoreline and step on an inclined algae-covered rock.
I asure you that they'll bear your load a lot further than a few centimeters. (Although getting your ass to the emergency room afterward is your problem)
eukaryote!