Garns | Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology

Thinking big about very very small things

Rudy GarnsNorthern Kentucky University

Garns | Nanotechnology

Scientists

Scientists: empirical research and discovery of facts about nature

Philosophers: forecasting and evaluating the implications

Informed imagination

Garns | Nanotechnology

Philosophers

Scientists: empirical research and discovery of facts about nature

Philosophers: forecasting and evaluating the implications

Informed imagination

Garns | Nanotechnology

Scientists and Philosophers

Scientists: empirical research and discovery of facts about nature

Philosophers: forecasting and evaluating the implications

Informed imagination

Garns | Nanotechnology

How Tall Are You?

Garns | Nanotechnology

How Tall Are You?

Someone who is five feet tall is

Garns | Nanotechnology

How Tall Are You?

Someone who is five feet tall is

.00095 miles tall (~1/1000)

• 1 mile = 5280 feet

Garns | Nanotechnology

How Tall Are You?

Someone who is five feet tall is

.00095 miles tall (~1/1000)

• 1 mile = 5280 feet

• 1 light year = ~ 6 trillion miles

• Proxima Centauri is ~4.2 light years away

Garns | Nanotechnology

How Tall Are You?

Someone who is five feet tall is

.00095 miles tall (~1/1000)

• 1 mile = 5280 feet

.00000000000000016 light years tall

• 1 light year = ~ 6 trillion miles

Proxima Centauri is ~4.2 light years away

Garns | Nanotechnology

Cells and DNA

The average human body = ~10-100 trillion cells

Nearly every cell contains DNA; 4 nm wide and uncoiled ~2-3 m long

All DNA in all cells = ~70 trips to sun and back

Garns | Nanotechnology

Cells and DNA

The average human body = ~10-100 trillion cells

Nearly every cell contains DNA; 4 nm wide and uncoiled ~2-3 m long

All DNA in all cells = ~70 trips to sun and back

Garns | Nanotechnology

Cells and DNA

The average human body = ~10-100 trillion cells

Nearly every cell contains DNA; 4 nm wide and uncoiled ~2-3 m long

All DNA in all cells = ~70 trips to sun and back

Garns | Nanotechnology

Cells and DNA

Garns | Nanotechnology

If Legos Were the Size of Atoms

‣The advantages of working at the nanoscale

Greater control and flexibility building from the ground up

Special properties at the nanoscale

Garns | Nanotechnology

If Legos Were the Size of Atoms

‣Increase flexibility and control but...

How many would you need?

How would you see them?

How would you work with them?

Garns | Nanotechnology

If Legos Were the Size of Atoms

‣Increase flexibility and control but...

How many would you need?

How would you see them?

How would you work with them?

Garns | Nanotechnology

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Garns | Nanotechnology

Atoms

‣One strand of hair:•80,000 nm wide

•48,000,000,000,000,000,000 atoms

Garns | Nanotechnology

Atoms

‣One strand of hair:•80,000 nm wide

•48,000,000,000,000,000,000 atoms

‣How could we see them?

Garns | Nanotechnology

Looking at the Nanoscale

Garns | Nanotechnology

Looking at the Nanoscale

Scanning Tunneling Microscope

Atomic Force Microscope

Garns | Nanotechnology

Looking at the Nanoscale

Garns | Nanotechnology

Looking at the Nanoscale

But how could we work with

them?

Garns | Nanotechnology

Looking at the Nanoscale

But how could we work with

them?Clue: Our bodies/cells work with nanoscale molecules and

atoms

Garns | Nanotechnology

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Garns | Nanotechnology

Looking at the Nanoscale

But how could we work with

them?Clue: Our bodies/cells work with nanoscale molecules and

atoms

Garns | Nanotechnology

Nano Factories

Garns | Nanotechnology

Nano Factories

Garns | Nanotechnology

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Nano-motor

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Garns | Nanotechnology

Nano-motor

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Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes

VERY strong

VERY light weight

Garns | Nanotechnology

What Can Nanotechnology Do For Us?

‣Cosmetics

‣Dentistry

‣Medicine/Health

‣Clothes

‣Cars

‣Smaller, faster, more powerful computers

‣Smart MaterialsPaint

Cloth

Furniture

‣Military Equipment

Garns | Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology Today

Garns | Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology Tomorrow

Garns | Nanotechnology

Cosmetics: Hair

Change your hair color

“Cure” baldness and remove unwanted hair

Garns | Nanotechnology

No More Dentist?

•Clean teeth

•Freshen Breath

•Prevent Gum disease

Garns | Nanotechnology

Biomedical

Garns | Nanotechnology

Biomedical

Dendrimers carry chemicals to the brain through

the blood-brain barrier

Garns | Nanotechnology

Biomedical

Dendrimers carry chemicals to the brain through the blood-brain

barrier

Garns | Nanotechnology

Nano Cars

VW Nanospyder

Garns | Nanotechnology

Nano Cars

Accura FCX 2020 Le Mans

Garns | Nanotechnology

Are There Dangers?

‣What we don’t know

Health risks

Environmental risks

Security/Privacy

‣Self-replicators

Gray goo

Garns | Nanotechnology

Informed Imagination

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Garns | Nanotechnology

Thank you.