4th Century
The Lycurgus cup, example of dichroic glass that modifies colors through angles of light shined through. Originally jade green in normal light, the cup turns translucent red through interaction with metallic nanoparticles.
Nanotechnology In the Time Before Us
6th-15th Century
European stained glass windows were painted with gold nanoparticles that would purify the air when light was shone through. Gold nanoparticles, energised by the sun, were able to destroy air-borne pollutants like volatile organic chemical (VOCs).
1857
Michael Faraday discovered colloidal “ruby” gold that showed nano constructed gold produced in different color solutions in certain lighting. Ruby glass involves dissolving very finely powdered gold in aqua regia (a mixture of concentrated nitric and hydrochloric acids), then adding water and a piece of tin.
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13th-18th Century
“Damascus” blades contained carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes are cylinders made of hexagonally-arranged carbon atoms. The carbon nanotubes allowed it's malleabilty and hardness. The way "damascus" blades were created died out with it's inventors in the 18th century.
Modern Nanotechnology In the Now
1959
The concepts of nanotechnology are introduced during a lecture by Richard Fenyman at the California Institute of Technology.
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2002
The first synthetic virus is created. US researchers developed the virus using the gene sequence for polio. To prove it's ability to work, the researchers injected the virus into mice that were paralyzed and died.
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2009-2010
Nadrian Seeman and colleagues at New York University created several DNA-like robotic nanoscale assembly devices. He created 3D DNA structures using synthetic sequences of DNA that were programmed to self-assemble with "sticky ends".
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2014
The Scripps Research Institute have produced a synthetic base to pair with Escherichia coli, expanding the information DNA will be able to code. The E. coli replicated synthetic DNA as long as they were fed triphosphates.
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2015
Stanford bioengineers extracted genes from 3 different poppies including opium, Iranian and California, goldthread, bacteria and rats and inserted them into yeast to produce morphine from sugar.
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2016
Contact lenses are being developed to sense the change in eye pressure to detect when curvature changes. The detection will be able to more accurately gauge when a person will develop glaucoma.
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Nanotechnology for the Future
The next 5 years...
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5 years to the next decade from now, scientists have plans for new advancements to better society. These 5 videos will illustrate the future that scientists are working towards.
1) The first plan scientists have for the future is the use of AI to help see into our mental health. New systems will allow our speech and writing to be analyzed to show early signs of mental disease development.
2) The next plan in for the future utilizes hyperimaging and AI to "see" beyond visible light. This new technology will allow users to see through objects at any time, anywhere.
3) The new development of macroscopes will allow scientists to understand the Earth's true complexity. The world from the naked eye only sees the smallest view compared to what these technologies can show about the physical world.
4) New "medical labs" on a chip will support scientists to serve as health detectives to recognize diseases before those affected experience symptoms.
5) New sensors will be able to detect environmental pollution at the speed of light. Modern sensing technologies will be able to accurately pinpoint and monitor the pollutants in our environment. Along with physical analytics, these will unlock insights to help scientists prevent pollution.
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