The first proposal of a path from then current technology to the ability to fabricate complex materials and devices by placing the atoms where you want them was made by Richard Feynman in 1959: “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom“, but see also this series “Feynman Path to Nanotechnology“. The second proposal to achieve… Continue reading Unrelated de novo enzyme replaces essential enzyme in cell
Ultrafast molecular machines made using DNA nanotechnology have now been demonstrated. Over the past several years molecular machines made using DNA nanotechnology, especially the scaffolded DNA origami technology, have grown more complex and more functional (see, for example, here, here, here, and here). Long-time Foresight member Dr. Robert P. Meagley writes to point out that… Continue reading Ultrafast DNA robotic arm: A step toward a nanofactory?
Mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs), such as rotaxanes and catenanes, provide a fertile opportunity to study some of the complexities of large biological systems of molecular machines, composed of large protein molecules, with small molecular machines composed of small organic molecules containing components that can move relative to each other in response to external control. The… Continue reading Mechanical communication in a rotaxane molecular machine
Since winning the 2007 Foresight Institute Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology, Theory category, Professor David Leigh FRS FRSE FRSC MAE, and since 2012 at the University of Manchester, has continued to achieve major milestones on the road to complex systems of molecular machinery. Contributions we have recently cited here: First direct measurement of force generated by… Continue reading Molecular robot builds four types of molecules
Our previous post announced a race around a 100 nm course of six NanoCars, each a unique concept created from only several dozen atoms and powered by electrical pulses. The race was run a few weeks later and two winners declared, due to two different tracks being used. From Swiss news “Swiss team wins shortest… Continue reading USA-Austrian and Swiss Nanocars finish first in first Nanocar race
Six NanoCars, each a unique concept created from only several dozen atoms by one of six teams representing six nations, and powered by electrical pulses, will compete to complete a 100 nm course within 38 hours.
A review from the group leading recent rapid progress in de novo protein design describes the successes, identifies the remaining challenges, and heralds the advance “from the Stone Age to the Iron Age” in protein design.
Sir J. Fraser Stoddart, winner of 2007 Foresight Feynman Prize for Experiment, shares the 2016 Chemistry Nobel for the design and synthesis of molecular machines.
Removing the necessity of providing several different chemical fuels in a series of distinct steps, a novel chemically-fueled molecular motor autonomously produces movement as long as the fuel supply lasts.
Recent research documents a structure-based rational design strategy combining molecular dynamics and single molecule imaging to improve the performance of a DNA tweezers that accurately positions an enzyme and its cofactor.
