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Envision an invention. You might think of everything from airplanes and iPods to the wheel itself. But what about the cutting-edge frontier of innovation: nanotechnology? As science advances, more discoveries are emerging in a field that wasn't even conceived until 1975.
The human eye can only detect objects as small as 0.1 millimeters in length. This list highlights 10 inventions that are 100,000 times smaller.
10. Self-Powered Liquid Metal
A unique alloy of liquid metal made from gallium, iridium, and tin can be controlled electrically to shape itself into complex structures or even race around a Petri dish. Comparing it to the liquid-metal antagonist from Terminator 2 isn’t an exaggeration. Jing Liu from Tsinghua University, one of the researchers involved in the project, which was conducted in Beijing, China, explained, “The soft machine appears quite intelligent and [can] reshape itself based on its environment, just like the Terminator in the sci-fi film.” The metal is biomimetic, meaning it imitates biochemical processes, although it’s not biological itself.
Electrical currents can steer the material, yet it operates on its own power, partly fueled by a charge imbalance that causes a pressure difference between the front and back of each drop of the alloy. While this method is thought to be the secret behind converting chemical energy into mechanical energy, the molecular material won’t be turning into a sinister robot anytime soon. This process only works in a sodium hydroxide or brine solution.
9. Nanopatches
Good news for trypanophobes! The fear of needles might soon be a thing of the past. Researchers at the University of York are developing a patch that can deliver all the necessary medications without the use of needles. Once applied to the skin, the patch delivers a precise dose of nanoparticle-sized medicine, small enough to pass through a hair follicle. These nanoparticles, each smaller than 20 nanometers, attach to harmful cells, destroy them, and then the body’s natural processes expel the dead cells.
The most exciting part? Once fully developed, the nanopatch could be a game-changer in the fight against one of medicine’s most challenging diseases: cancer. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, the nanoparticles will specifically target and destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. The project, named “NanJect,” was crowdfunded in 2013 by student researchers Atif Syed and Zakareya Hussein and is still under development. Let’s just hope the nanopatch never teams up with liquid metal robot technology.
8. Water Purification Coating
Do you remember the 2010 BP oil spill? Future incidents like this may become a thing of the past if the researchers at Ohio State have their way. They are developing a coating just a few nanometers thick that, when applied to a fine-mesh stainless steel filter, removes oil while letting water flow through.
This nanocoating draws inspiration from nature. The lotus leaf, also known as the water lily, possesses properties quite the opposite of the nanocoating, as it repels water but not oil. The lotus leaf has long been an object of scientific admiration, already sparking the development of super-hydrophobic materials in 2003.
For the nanocoating, scientists replicated the bumpy surface structure of a lotus leaf and enhanced it with cleansing molecules. The outcome is a coating that repels oil in the same way the lotus leaf repels water. The coating, invisible to the naked eye, can be produced at an incredibly low cost of $1 per square foot.
7. Submarine Air Purifier
Most people don’t think about the air that submarine crews breathe, except for the unfortunate few who have to endure it. Carbon dioxide must be removed constantly, as the same air circulates through a new set of submariner lungs over 100 times during a single voyage. A chemical known as amine filters out the CO2, but it leaves behind a foul odor.
Enter the Self-Assembled Monolayers on Mesoporous Supports, or SAMMS, for those of you who prefer a friendlier name for a blend of sand grains and nanoparticles. This innovative CO2 removal method uses this porous material in place of the odorous amine.
Different varieties of SAMMS bind to distinct molecules, but all are remarkably effective at absorbing their intended targets. Just a single teaspoon contains enough pores to create a surface area roughly the size of a football field. As demonstrated by its highly specialized role as a submarine air purifier, no problem is too small for science to solve.
6. Electricity-Controlled Nanoconductor
Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered how to craft a conductor for electricity on a nanotechnology scale. This solid nanoparticle can be reshaped to guide electrical currents in different, opposing directions. The official study mentions that each nanoparticle can function as various electrical components like “current rectifiers, switches, and diodes.” Each 5-nanometer-wide particle is coated with a positively charged chemical and surrounded by negative atoms, which then rearrange in response to the electrical charge.
The possibilities are astonishing. The materials created “can reorganize themselves to suit different computational demands at different moments,” as described in the University press release. This nanomaterial could enable future electronics to reprogram themselves, directing electrical pulses in new ways. Hardware could be updated with the same ease as software. The very idea of “obsolete” technology could soon be outdated.
This nanoscale conductor holds another exciting potential: serving as a three-dimensional bridge connecting various technologies. It’s the ideal adapter, capable of being programmed for compatibility. Maybe this means you won’t need to purchase a new phone-charging cable after all.
5. Nano-Sponge Phone Charger
Say goodbye to phone cords when this innovation becomes widespread. This nanotechnology functions like a sponge, absorbing excess kinetic energy from the environment and transferring it into your phone. The material is piezoelectric, which means it generates electricity when subjected to mechanical stress. With nano-sized pores, the material transforms into a flexible sponge. The added movement enables the material to generate more electricity, powering your device from the energy surrounding it.
Officially, this is called a “nanogenerator.” (Yes, by now it seems like “nano” is attached to almost everything on this list—nanotechnology researchers do love to use that prefix.) In any case, this material could eventually be integrated into a cell phone’s outer casing. It would charge while resting on a car’s dashboard or even while in your pocket. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are also exploring its potential for use in larger industrial settings.
4. Artificial Retina
The future of artificial vision is so promising, you might soon need shades . . . or perhaps a nanofilm designed to replace your retina. Nano Retina, an Israel-based company, is developing an interface that connects directly to the neurons in the eye, sending neural signals to the brain to replace the retina and restore sight. An experiment with a chick has already shown success, with neural activity confirming that the nanofilm allowed the chick to perceive light that it otherwise couldn't see. However, the technology still has a long way to go before achieving its ultimate goal: enhancing human vision.
Nano Retina isn’t the only player in the field of artificial vision, but it stands out for being the most durable, efficient, and flexible. Flexibility is especially crucial, as the final product will be implanted into someone’s eye. Previous inventions have faced difficulties with this aspect, but by working on the nanoscale, Nano Retina sidesteps problems like metal components, wires, and low resolution.
3. 3-D Chemical Printer
This final entry is not just one single particle; it’s a 3-D printer capable of producing thousands of unique ones. University of Illinois chemist Martin Burke is like a chemical version of Willy Wonka. By using a collection of “building block” molecules, he can generate a variety of different chemicals with exceptional natural properties, such as ratanhine, which can only be found in a rare Peruvian flower.
The scope of this synthesis is vast, offering molecules for applications in medicines, LEDs, and solar cells, including chemicals that would have previously taken a trained chemist years to create. While the current prototype has some limitations, it is already capable of developing new drugs. Burke aims to eventually create a consumer-friendly version. One can hope that the future brings us a printer that acts as a home pharmacist.
2. Organ-Repairing Nanoneedles
Earlier, we discussed a drug patch designed to replace needles, but what if the needles themselves were tiny, at the nanoscale? In that case, they could potentially replace surgery, or at least assist in it. Recent successful trials on lab mice injected nucleic acids, which promote the regeneration of organ and nerve cells, helping them recover lost functions. After completing their task, the needles remain inside the body, biodegrading within a few days. No harmful side effects were observed when these needles were used to form blood vessels in the mice’s back muscles.
If these nanoneedles were applied to humans, they could be used during organ transplants to inject acids, helping prepare the surrounding tissue to heal and integrate the new organ into the body. Another potential application could be “reprogramming” the cells of a burn victim, encouraging them to regenerate as healthy and functional skin rather than scar tissue.
1. Glowing Clothes
Researchers in Shanghai are developing light-emitting fibers that can be woven into clothing. Soon, you might have the perfect outfit for an 80s neon nightclub! These fibers begin with a stainless steel wire base, which is coated with nanoparticles, followed by a layer of electroluminescent polymer, and finished with a transparent nanotube safety coating. The resulting fibers are not only lightweight and flexible, but they also glow independently, powered by electrochemical energy. Even better, they require less power than traditional LED lights.
The catch? The glow from these fibers only lasts a few hours. But developers are hopeful that their creation will eventually glow for 1,000 times longer. In theory, there’s nothing stopping them. However, once ready for market, these nanoparticle-powered clothes may not be machine washable. Despite this, items that aren’t washed frequently, like safety vests or baseball caps, could still be awesome when they glow on their own. Researchers are also exploring the potential biomedical benefits of this technology.
