The discovery that nitrogen-doped, metal-free carbon nanotubes make better electrodes than do platinum nanoparticles may open the way for inexpensive nanotech fuel cells.
This the fifth essay in a series exploring if, when, and how the Singularity will happen, why (or why not) we should care, and what, if anything, we should do about it. Part V: AIs: smarter or just faster? One of the primary phenomena invoked in the notion that the Singularity will come with an… Continue reading Singularity, part 5
Those interested in the economic-trends style of futurism will enjoy How the Crash Will Reshape America in the Atlantic. For background you might look at this 2006 essay by Paul Graham — they both embody some of the same theory of innovation as a driver to urban (or perhaps regional) vitality. Hat tip to Philippe… Continue reading Post-crash economic trends
A sawing and annealing process that creates regular nanoscale features on the surface of a sapphire crystal promises a way of making nanotech memories of up to 10 Terabits per square inch without the need of photolithography.
Over at IEEE Tech Talk, Dexter Johnson points out a flurry of interest in “nanobots” over the past week, casting quite a wide net that ranges from Nadrian Seeman’s experimental lab work to Ray Kurzweil’s hopeful dreams for the far future. He also tosses a bit of credit in my direction — thanks! — and… Continue reading The audacity of nano-hope
Plant viruses are a new addition to the long list of types of nanoparticles being investigated as next generation nanotech cancer therapies.
Two independently controlled nanomechanical devices can be positioned on a two-dimensional DNA grid so that they can cooperate to capture between them one of four DNA building blocks, determined by which of two possible states each device is set to.
This the fourth essay in a series exploring if, when, and how the Singularity will happen, why (or why not) we should care, and what, if anything, we should do about it. Part IV: When So when is all this going to happen? To quote Mark Twain, I’m gratified to be able to answer that… Continue reading Singularity, part 4
Advances in using amorphous metal alloys may make possible an inexpensive nanotech version of the molding technique used to make DVDs.
This the third essay in a series exploring if, when, and how the Singularity will happen, why (or why not) we should care, and what, if anything, we should do about it. Part III: Singularity from the bottom up In the previous essay in this series, I argued top-down, from historical and economic precedents, that… Continue reading Singularity, part 3
