Picture of the day

"Diamondoid cell-repair nanorobot"

Simulation of a simple mobile cell-repair nanorobot and some of it's subsystems. (click to see full sized version)

Yuriy Svidinenko: In this study I'll try to simulate simple mobile cell-repair nanorobot and try to analyse some kind of it's subsystems. A complete functional design of an artificial cell-repairer is beyond the scope of this paper. Here, I want to focus on the purely simulation aspects of the cell repair nanorobot's functions and parts.

See Cell Repair Nanorobot Design And Simulation for details.

As with previous pictures, I will post the others in this series over time. To see it all now, visit the Nanotechnology Now Gallery.

Quote of the day

Molecular manufacturing (MM) can solve many of the world's current problems. For example, water shortage is a serious and growing problem. Most water is used for industry and agriculture; both of these requirements would be greatly reduced by products made by molecular manufacturing. Infectious disease is a continuing scourge in many parts of the world. Simple products like pipes, filters, and mosquito nets can greatly reduce this problem. Information and communication are valuable, but lacking in many places. Computers and display devices would become stunningly cheap. Electrical power is still not available in many areas. The efficient, cheap building of light, strong structures, electrical equipment, and power storage devices would allow the use of solar thermal power as a primary and abundant energy source. Environmental degradation is a serious problem worldwide. High-tech products can allow people to live with much less environmental impact. Many areas of the world cannot rapidly bootstrap a 20th century manufacturing infrastructure. Molecular manufacturing technology can be self-contained and clean; a single packing crate or suitcase could contain all equipment required for a village-scale industrial revolution. Finally, MM will provide cheap and advanced equipment for medical research and health care, making improved medicine widely available. Much social unrest can be traced directly to material poverty, ill health, and ignorance. MM can contribute to great reductions in all of these problems, and in the associated human suffering.

From: Benefits of Molecular Manufacturing

Nanomedicine Education

In an effort to help educate 12 – 18 year olds, the folks at PlayGen have created NanoMission™. NanoMission is a "cutting edge gaming experience which educates players about basic concepts in nanoscience through real world practical applications from microelectronics to drug delivery."

Their press release goes on to say "NanoMission is a learning experience which educates players about basic concepts in nanoscience through real world practical applications from microelectronics to drug delivery. The demo of the first module, nanomedicine, compels the player to select a suitable vehicle to deliver an anti cancer compound, and then navigate through the bloodstream to the site of the tumour, while avoiding the bodies' natural defence mechanisms."

While this tool is aimed primarily at children, adults who are not comfortable with the technologies will find it educational as well.

The following YouTube video takes you inside the bloodstream with a vesicle loaded with anti-cancer molecules.

View the other videos here

Or download the demo here

About PlayGen: Founded in 2001 by gaming industry experts, PlayGen is a London based game development studio with a strong track record in developing serious games for training and learning purposes. See http://www.playgen.com

About Cientifica: Cientifica is the world's leading independent supplier of nanotechnology research and technology information, with activities spanning from consultancy, to business intelligence and investments. See http://www.cientifica.com/