Center for Responsible Nanotechnology
Recently, the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN), one of the world’s leading nanotech policy think-tanks, released their 34th newsletter. CRN is a nanotech policy organization that deserves much more attention than the hundreds (if not thousands) of “nanotechnology†organizations worldwide. The reason is that for the vast majority of organizations, “nanotechnology†means any product that incorporates nanoscale components, or in some cases, just plain old microtechnology. This is not what the word was coined to mean. “Nanotechnology†a term originally coined by MIT Ph.D Eric Drexler, refers to productive machine systems made from nanoscale components. Productive machine systems on the nanoscale will drastically revolutionize every sphere of human affairs within months of their introduction, whereas conventional products (paint, sunscreen, textiles, etc.) incorporating nanoscale components bulk-fabricated using macroscale machine systems are interesting, but not world-changing.
CRN maintains a strict focus on the former form of nanotechnology (sometimes called “MNT†or “molecular nanotechnology†to distinguish it from other technologies given the name "nanotechnology"), making it a uniquely relevant source of nanotech information relative to most other nanotech organizations.
This month, CRN mentioned three important events in the nanotech research community. First, researchers at Northwestern University experimented with a new form of sensing and applying force to tiny samples. Though we aren’t there yet, a fast and very precise nanoscale fabrication tool could throw open the door to productive nanosystems, if someone could come up with a viable design for a self-replicating nanoscale assembler. Second, CRN notes the online publication of “Design and Analysis of a Molecular Tool for Carbon Transfer in Mechanosynthesis†(pdf), authored by the father of nanotechnology himself, K. Eric Drexler, in participation with Damian G. Allis. This paper is another step towards the kind of precise nanoscale fabrication tool mentioned above. Lastly, CRN notes the online publication of Kinematic Self-Replicating Machines by Robert Freitas Jr. and Ralph Merkle, two long-time pioneers in the field of nanotechnology. KSRM is the most comprehensive overview of physical (not software) self-replicating systems yet published.
The main body of the newsletter discusses CRN’s recent and upcoming public activity. Director of Research Chris Phoenix will visit San Francisco, Michigan, and Seattle to attend three conferences in a one-month period(!) This is a strong sign that despite his unique technical ability to accelerate the arrival of molecular nanotechnology, he chooses to spend a considerable amount of time attending and speaking at conferences, spreading the message (among others) that our current regulations and institutions are insufficient to address the coming challenges.
The newsletter finishes with an excellent feature essay, “Early Applications of Molecular Manufacturingâ€, which discusses some of the initial “limitations†(if you care to call them that, because any MNT-fabbed product will be vastly superior to its predecessor) of molecular manufacturing. Product domains surveyed include transportation, recreation, medical care, basic needs, the environment, and military nanotechnology. A fascinating essay which includes several never-before-discussed insights on nanotechnology’s likely early applications.
You can sign up for CRN’s monthly newsletter here.