NANOTECHNOLOGY UPDATE  

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Two years ago I wrote a column on nanotechnology, the then new science of the inorganic invisible. The column, which dealt with the future ability of humans to manipulate individual atoms or molecules and "build" them into something, was based mainly on information gleaned from the classic primer ENGINES OF CREATION, The Coming Era of Nanotechnology by K. Eric Drexler. Drexler might be termed the "inventor" of this whole field. A few years ago most scientists, including Drexler, thought it might be decades before nanotechnology made major advances. That time frame appears to be compressing. Advances in this field are accelerating much faster than believed possible in 1990. Positive effects of nanotechnological innovations in medicine and environmental restoration are perceived as actually possible. For instance the design of protein molecules has been followed by the design of a working enzyme unlike anything in nature. This could herald the concept of evolution-in-a-drum, methods for producing molecules that self-assemble to form larger structures.

The manipulation of individual atoms at IBM, to spell out its logo, proves that precisely-positioned atomic-level control can be accomplished. DNA has been fabricated into a cube. So contrary to what was thought impossible two years ago, designed and fabricated molecules are part of today's -- not tomorrow's -- technology.

In addition to Dr. Drexler's recent work towards building the first crude molecular assembler, Dr. Ralph Merkle, founder of Xerox PARC's Computational Nanotechnology Project, is working on proposed molecular devices, including bearings and other mechanical components. This is reminiscent of (under a microscope) Henry Ford's building his first car. Only with nanotechnology could a "submarine" be built to cruise through arteries cleaning out plaque and chloresterol.

Where the Japanese invest, something is usually about to move. When Drexler first announced his theories in this field, America's general response was, "interesting, maybe we should look at this 25 years down the road". MITI, Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry, looked at it and dedicated $185 million to develop nanotechnology during this decade. The journal Nature recently convened a conference in Japan on "Nanotechnology", in conjunction with the Science and Technology Agency, to focus on building molecular structures, materials and machines. Drexler's book Engines of Creation has now been translated, published and distributed in Japan. Media world-wide eventually observed interest growing, and such publications as the New York Times, The Economist, Science, Time, Business Week and Popular Science wrote about the astounding possibilities in this emerging field. In Japan, NHK, (Nippon Broadcasting Corporation) produced a three-hour television series exploring nanotechnology research and its implications for the future. In Britain there is now a professional journal called Nanotechnology. A recent conference in Monterey, California featured eco-technology with nanotechnology as a popular segment.

Those that entered this field as soon as Drexler did his excavation now have an assured future. Today, you have to get into emerging fields before the "ground floor" is built.

More information: K. Eric Drexler, President, Foresight Institute, Box 61058, Palo Alto, California 94306. Phone: 415/324-2490. Fax: 415/948-5649.

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