Hobbies And Interests
Richard Feynman
Richard Feynman was a physicist at the California Institute of Technology who introduced the idea in 1959. In a talk titled "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom," he suggested that future scientists would be able to create nanoscale machines by manipulating atoms. Feynman laid the groundwork for the work that only came to fruition two decades later and influenced nanotechnology's more important inventors in the field of molecular manufacturing.
Eric Drexler
In 1979, physicist Eric Drexler at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was inspired by Feynman's vision and started work on molecular manufacturing. In his initial writings on the topic, he suggested that objects could be manufactured to with "specific atomic specifications using designed protein molecules." Drexler published "Engines of Creation," a book that used the term "nanotechnology" for the first time to refer to engineering on a billionth of a meter scale. Drexler started the Foresight Institute to encourage nanotechnology research. Both the book and the FI generated interest in the scientific community, although some scientists, most notably Richard Smalley, Rice University chemist, criticized Drexler for presenting a sensationalist vision of nanotechnology.
Microscopes
Invented in 1981 by Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer, the scanning tunnelling microscope, or STM, is one of nanotechnology's success stories. The microscope allowed scientists to see and test individual atoms for the first time. It is therefore an essential part of nanotechnology development. In 1986, the atomic force microscope, or AFM, appeared. This removed some of the STM limitations, such as only being able to examine metals and alloys, and introduced research into organic materials. The AFM is credited with playing an important role in the discovery the carbon Buckyball at Rice University in 1985. The full name of the newly discovered carbon structure was buckminsterfullerene, because it had the same shape as architect Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome. The name was later reduced to "Buckyball."
Applications
Nanotechnology has multiple uses. Nanoparticles in textiles produce stain-resistant chinos, for example. In the automobile industry, a plastic nanocomposite used to make "step assists" in vans is lightweight and scratch-resistant. Its strength and the fact it reduces van weight results in reducing fuel usage and extending vehicle life. Some sports equipment, particularly golf clubs and tennis rackets, use nanotechnology because it makes them stronger and lighter. Nanocrystals are used in photovoltaic devices and in antimicrobial medical dressings, amongst other uses. Household paint, vitamins, sunscreens and synthetic human bone are made using nanoparticles. The number of applications is still expanding.