Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!nanotech From: barryf@rpi.edu (Barry B. Floyd) Newsgroups: sci.nanotech Subject: Re: Is this stuff for real? Keywords: reality nanotech questions Message-ID: Date: 1 Mar 91 04:15:23 GMT Sender: nanotech@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 24 Approved: nanotech@aramis.rutgers.edu I am no expert, though my interests are more than passing... In my quest for relevant information I find Science News (MIT? weekly?) and Scientific America (monthly) to be accessible (intellectually). Each has run one or more stories in recent months describing independent efforts to "move" individual atoms using normal-scale machines. Researchers have successfully "written" names and designs by manipulting surface and sub-surface atoms (details and references are not on hand). I am less atuned to the biological approach (e.g. protien machines, enzyme machines) etc. though I have read "Blood Music" et al and find it plausible. Several genetic engineering firms written up in financial newspapers seem to be predisposed to advances and commercial applictions along these lines. To the extent that such companies (vs Universities) exist, prospects seem positive. barry -- +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Barry B. Floyd \\\ barry_floyd@mts.rpi.edu | | Manager Information Systems - HR \\\ usere9w9@rpitsmts | +-Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute--------------------troy, ny 12180-+