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Nano-Scale Robot Arm Moves Atoms With 100% Accuracy

destinyland writes "A New York professor has built a two-armed nanorobotic device with the ability to place specific atoms and molecules where scientists want them. The nano-scopic device is just 150 x 50 x 8 nanometers in size — over a million could fit inside a single red blood cell. But because of its size, it's able to build nanoscale structures and machines — including a nanoscale walking biped and even sequence-dependent molecular switch arrays!"

30 of 266 comments (clear)

  1. Exponential Growth by elzurawka · · Score: 4, Funny

    So, the first one builds a friend, then each builds a friend, and each of those builds a friend. Soon enough there will be millions, and they will be able to invade your blood cells!

    I for one welcome our nano sized robot overlords

    --
    -EL
    1. Re:Exponential Growth by g0bshiTe · · Score: 4, Funny

      I for one welcome our nano sized robot overlords

      Because they are nano sized would that not make them under lords?

      --
      I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!
    2. Re:Exponential Growth by rhsanborn · · Score: 4, Funny

      Inner lords, I think, they being inside our blood cells and all.

    3. Re:Exponential Growth by melikamp · · Score: 2, Funny

      They control our physiology, but we control their programming, so they may be some kind of meta-lords.

    4. Re:Exponential Growth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      So, the first one builds a friend, then each builds a friend, and each of those builds a friend. Soon enough there will be millions...

      Sounds like Amway.

    5. Re:Exponential Growth by mcpkaaos · · Score: 2, Funny

      The Jack Putter machine: zero defects!

      --
      It goes from God, to Jerry, to me.
    6. Re:Exponential Growth by sentientbeing · · Score: 4, Funny

      Ah nanotechnology.

      Its the next big thing.

      --

      ------
      beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his mind he dreams himself your master
    7. Re:Exponential Growth by DreamsAreOkToo · · Score: 3, Funny

      I think Scientology has a copyright on "Inner Lords."

    8. Re:Exponential Growth by newcastlejon · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'm sorry, Jack but no amount of money will get Dennis Quaid inside me.

      --
      If God forks the Universe every time you roll a die, he'd better have a damned good memory.
    9. Re:Exponential Growth by registrar · · Score: 2, Funny

      Endolords.

    10. Re:Exponential Growth by kaizokuace · · Score: 3, Funny

      Are they like midichlorians?

      --
      Balderdash!
  2. Science has triumphed once more!!!! by jollyreaper · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now it is possible to build the perfect woman! Of course, it'll take a few thousand years to get her fully assembled.

    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
  3. A New York professor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    That narrows it down.

    1. Re:A New York professor by snl2587 · · Score: 2, Funny

      I guess the editors saw that the name is Dr. Seeman and decided to spare us the flood of Anonymous Cowards.

    2. Re:A New York professor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      You might call his work.....seminal......

  4. Re:Did we just break heisenberg's principle? by ShakaUVM · · Score: 5, Funny

    >>Isn't that only for sub atomic particles? This is moving the atoms themselves.

    No, the uncertainty principle applies to particles as well. All matter exhibits wave-particle duality (the De Broglie wavelength). Even relatively large molecules like C60 fullerenes have been shown to diffract through a slit.

  5. Re:DNA by dkh2 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, a good portion of DNA is now known to fit the description "sequence driven molecular switch arrays." I would say the answer is a resounding 'Yes!'

    The follow-on question - after determining which switches to throw for me to grow wings - how long before I go through probate to change my name to Warren Worthington?

    --
    My office has been taken over by iPod people.
  6. Re:DNA by maxume · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why wait to change your name?

    Wings or not, you are still going to have the same problems with gravity as everyone else.

    I guess once you build your (enormous) space habitat it might be cool to have wings.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  7. To paraphrase an old chestnut.. by goldaryn · · Score: 4, Funny

    a two-armed nanorobotic device with the ability to place specific atoms and molecules where scientists want them

    yes, but where the scientists want them and where the scientists have told its programs to put them are two different things!

  8. Re:Did we just break heisenberg's principle? by derGoldstein · · Score: 2, Funny

    And if not, the little arm will go: "Nobody move! I dropped a molecule!"

    --
    Entomologically speaking, the spider is not a bug, it's a feature.
  9. Re:Question: by nospam007 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can they make gold?

    Gold?

    Can they make HP ink?

  10. Re:Did we just break heisenberg's principle? by goldaryn · · Score: 2, Funny

    My girlfriend always moans at me in the car "Do you know how fast you are going?". To which I ALWAYS say "No, but I know exactly where I am".

    "Why aren't we moving?" "I'm lost"

    Bloody woman

  11. Re:Did we just break heisenberg's principle? by SwordsmanLuke · · Score: 4, Funny

    He's not certain.

    --
    Any plan which depends on a fundamental change in human behavior is doomed from the start.
  12. Re:Did we just break heisenberg's principle? by xmousex · · Score: 5, Funny

    i don't know why this is rated funny,

    beavis only saw "diffract through a slit"

  13. Re:No it really is 100% accuracy by dominious · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can assure you that nothing is ever 100%.

    and you are 100% certain?

  14. Re:There's a positive side by Roberticus · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just be sure to consult your molecular biologist if you experience a nanotechnological enhancement lasting more than four hours.

  15. Re:Typo: I wrote the inequality backwards by Gerafix · · Score: 4, Funny

    Do you happen to work at NASA?

  16. Schroedinger's cat by l00sr · · Score: 2, Funny

    With all the misinformation in this thread, Schroedinger's cat is rolling over in its grave... with probability one half.

  17. Re:There's a positive side by MaskedSlacker · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just because she calls it nano doesn't mean....aw.

  18. I hope he names it after himself by Fdisk81 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I want Doctors to tell patients in the future "We are going to pump you full of Seeman" with a straight face.