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Nanotechnology Glossary
Nanotechnology: Originally used to define any work done on the molecular scale, or one billionth of a meter. This term is now used broadly (& loosely) for anything that is really small (usually smaller than a micrometer).
Molecular Nanotechnology: Term coined by Eric Drexler to describe the manipulation & fabrication of single or small groups of atoms & molecules.
Nanometer: one billionth of a meter or 1/1000 of a micrometer.
Microtechnology: Working with structures, proteins & molecular groups in the micrometer range.
Assembler: A molecular manufacturing device capable of positioning molecules through chemical reactions.
Atom: The smallest unit of a chemical element, about a third of a nanometer in diameter. Atoms are the basis for molecules & solid objects.
Atomic force microscope: An imaging instrument used to “magnify” at the molecular level through mechanical tracing of surface contours.
Automated engineering: Engineering done by computer systems without the input of humans.
Automated manufacturing: Manufacturing at the nano-level by assemblers & Replicators by themselves.
Bulk technology: Manipulation & fabrication of large groups of molecules.
Cell pharmacology: The administration of drugs to precise locations in the patient by means of nanomachines.
Cell surgery: Precise surgery done by the modification of cell structures by nanomachines
Cell: A small structural unit, surrounded by a membrane, making up living things.
Disassembler: Instrument or machine capable of taking apart structures a few atoms at a time, recording structural information at each step.
DNA: DNA molecules carry the genetic information necessary for the organization and functioning of most living cells and control the inheritance of characteristics.
Enabling science and technologies: Areas of research relevant to a particular goal, such as nanotechnology.
Enzymes: Naturally occurring chemical substances in the human body that help a chemical reaction take place.
Exploratory engineering: Looking into designs & analysis of systems that will be possible in the future as our tools & processes are refined.
Gray goo: Hypothetical human extinction event involving nanotechnology, either on purpose or through the mutation/evolution of nanomachines.
Immune machines: Nanomachines applied for medical uses by aiding a patient's immune system change or destroy viruses & bacteria.
Limited assembler: An assembler that is built with a specific predetermined function. Less susceptible to misuse & abuse than a General Assembler.
Molecular electronics: An electronic system that is able to operate using single electrons for power; Further refined by the use of multiple parts at the nano scale as opposed to current technology of etching “parts” from a single substance.
Molecular machine: A machine that is atomically precise & of nanometer size, can also be used to describe naturally produced devices.
Molecular manipulator: A device combining a proximal probe mechanism for atomically precise positioning with a molecule binding site on the tip; can serve as the basis for building complex structures by positional synthesis.
Molecular manufacturing: Manufacturing using molecular machinery, giving molecule-by-molecule control of products and by-products via positional chemical synthesis.
Molecular medicine: A variety of pharmaceutical techniques and therapies in use today.
Molecular nanotechnology: Thorough, inexpensive control of the structure of matter based on molecule-by-molecule control of products and byproducts; the products and processes of molecular manufacturing, including molecular machinery.
Molecular recognition: A chemical term referring to processes in which molecules adhere in a highly specific way, forming a larger structure; an enabling technology for nanotechnology.
Molecular surgery or molecular repair: Analysis and physical correction of molecular structures in the body using medical nanomachines.
Molecular systems engineering: Design, analysis, and construction of systems of molecular parts working together to carry out a useful purpose.
Molecule: Group of atoms held together by chemical bonds; the typical unit manipulated by nanotechnology.
Nano: A prefix meaning one billionth (1/1,000,000,000).
Nanocomputer: A computer with parts built on a molecular scale.
Nanoelectronics: Electronics on a nanometer scale, whether made by current techniques or nanotechnology; includes both molecular electronics and nanoscale devices resembling today's semiconductor devices.
Nanomachine: An artificial molecular machine created through molecular manufacturing.
Nanomanufacturing: See molecular manufacturing.
Nanosurgery: A generic term including molecular repair and cell surgery.
Nanotechnology: See Molecular nanotechnology. Is used loosley by many companies & individuals to describe anything to do with things smaller than a micrometer.
Positional synthesis: Control of chemical reactions by precisely positioning the reactive molecules; the basic principle of assemblers.
Protein design, protein engineering: The design and construction of new proteins; an enabling technology for nanotechnology.
Proximal probes: A family of devices capable of fine positional control and sensing, including scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopes; an enabling technology for nanotechnology.
Replicator: A system able to build copies of itself when provided with raw materials and energy.
Ribosome: A naturally occurring molecular machine that manufactures proteins according to instructions derived from the cell's genes.
Scanning tunneling microscope: An instrument able to image conducting surfaces to atomic accuracy; has been used to pin molecules to a surface.
Sealed assembler lab: A general-purpose assembler system in a container permitting only energy and information to be exchanged with the environment.
Smart materials and products: Here, materials and products capable of relatively complex behavior due to the incorporation of nanocomputers and nanomachines. Also used for products having some ability to respond to the environment.
Star Trek scenario: Someone builds potentially dangerous self-replicating devices that spread disastrously.
Virtual reality system: A combination of computer and interface devices (goggles, gloves, etc.) that presents a user with the illusion of being in a three dimensional world of computer-generated objects.
Virus: A parasite that invades cells and takes over their molecular machinery in order to copy itself. Also a program that may act malicious on it's own or through execution.
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