Nanotechnology has been one of the biggest breakthroughs in this century. So much so that it is impossible to imagine a future without it. It’s enabled breakthroughs in science, chemistry and medicine. However, there are some unusual uses of the technology that we look at in this post.
Film
Without the invention of the microscope that can see atoms at a molecular level, we may not even have nanotechnology. This microscope is called STM and enabled us to make a 90-second movie (seen above) about a boy and his atom. To make the movie, researchers utilized a unique feature that comes with the STM: an electrically charged and extremely sharp stylus with a tip made of one atom.
High-Resolution Displays
Pixels are the determining factor of image quality on screens. Scientists have managed to create pixels that are just a few hundred nanometers across. The nano-pixels will serve a variety of purposes where the conventional pixels have become impractical. For instance, their tiny size and thickness will make them a great choice for technologies such as smart glasses, foldable screens, and synthetic retinas.
Colour Changing Paint
While experimenting with gold nano particles, scientists found when pressure is applied they change colour. They then created sensors that change colour as pressure is applied. The sensors could serve a variety of purposes. For instance, they could be incorporated into furniture, such as couches or beds, to assess sitting or sleeping positions.
Phone Charging
Whatever smartphone you may have there are 2 main downsides, the time it takes to charge and battery life. Even with the emergence of Fast Charge, scientists from Israel have created a battery that only take 30 seconds to recharge using nanotechnology.
Drug Delivery
Treatments for diseases such as cancer can be prohibitively expensive and, in some cases, too late. Fortunately, several medical firms from around the world are researching cheap and effective ways of treating illnesses. Among them is Immusoft, a company that aims to revolutionize how medicines are delivered to our bodies.
Instead of spending billions of dollars on drugs and therapy programs, Immusoft believes that we can engineer our bodies to produce drugs by themselves. With help from the immune system, cells of a patient can be altered to receive new genetic information that allows them to make their own medicine. The genetic information can be delivered via nano-sized capsules injected into the body.
Computer Storage
During the past few decades computers have become smaller yet have grown in processing power and storage capabilities. However computer power cannot keep up with the rise of existing manufacturing technologies. A team of scientists has been working on solution to this by creating nano storage devices that mimic the way the brain stores information.
Nano Art
Nano art is an emerging trend that allows people to view an entirely different world through a microscope. It’s a combination of science and art practiced by a few scientists and artists. Among them is John Hart, a mechanical engineer from the University of Michigan, who made a nano portrait of President Barack Obama. The portrait, which was named Nanobama, was created to honor the President when he was a candidate during the 2008 presidential elections.
