The Dance of the Molecules How Nanotechnology is Changing Our Lives

by Sargent, Ted

• ISBN13: 9781560258957
• ISBN10: 1560258950
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-10-30
• Publisher: Basic Books

Summary

What if a doctor could stop cancer by targeting a single malignant cell before it multiplied? Imagine a paper-thin "power suit" that could keep you warm on a winter day? What about a computer that connects directly with your thoughts? In this groundbreaking exploration of the future of nanotechnology, Ted Sargent reveals how all disciplines of science, from medicine to microchips, are converging to create materials using the tiniest scale possible molecule by molecule. And instead of trying to overcome the natural world, nanotech takes its every move from the perfect, elegant structure of nature itself. Its potential is seemingly endless, with practical implications that will revolutionize the way we live, work, and play. In an age when science often evokes more fear than faith, when the potential for superviruses and diabolical cloning looms in our consciousness, Sargent enthusiastically illuminates nanotech's positive possibilities. By working with the tiniest building blocks in nature, pioneering scientists will drastically improve the quality of life for all of us.

Author Biography

Ted Sargent is visiting professor of nanotechnology at MIT. In 2003, Sargent was named to Technology Review magazine's "TR100": a group of 100 of the world's top young innovators whose work will shape how we live and work in the future. His research breakthroughs have been widely reported in magazines such as Wired, BusinessWeek, and National Geographic. He lives in Cambridge, MA.

Table of Contents

Prologue Imagine	ix
Introduction Discover	1	(32)
HEALTH
1 Diagnose	33	(16)
2 Heal	49	(12)
3 Grow	61	(22)
ENVIRONMENT
4 Energize	83	(20)
5 Protect	103	(14)
6 Emulate	117	(20)
INFORMATION
7 Compute	137	(20)
8 Interact	157	(14)
9 Convey	171	(30)
Epilogue Humanize	201	(12)
References	213	(12)
Illustration Credits	225	(2)
Acknowledgments	227	(2)
Index	229