Concepts for the Nanotechnology Cluster are structured by ICE-9:

Identity (1 - 4), Change (5 - 7), and Evaluation (8, 9) in 9 questions

Some answers to these Identity, Change, and Evaluation questions:

    0.   Introduction

1. Strategy for critical thinking: context

2. Fleeting facts, enduring concepts, and timeless questions

1. What is nanotechnology?

   1. Nanopowders and nanomaterials (pants, sunscreen)

   2. Molecular precision (solar cells, light emitting diodes)

   3. Nanoscale machines

   4. Matter compilers

   5. Self-replicating robots

    

2. Why do we use nanotechnology?

   1. Health (e.g. cleaning arteries, digital immune system)

   2. Computation (quantum computing)

   3. Information storage (magnetic effects)

   4. Manufacturing (e.g. flatpanel displays)

   5. Transportation (e.g. gliders, space elevator)

   6. Conflict

    

3. Where does nanotechnology come from?

   1. Chemistry (structural, molecular, astrochemistry led to discovery of bucky balls)

   2. Organic chemistry

   3. Quantum chemistry

   4. Genomics

   5. Protein folding and self-assembly

   6. Biology (including enzyme reaction mechanisms)

   7. Biochemistry

   8. Physics (general)

   9. Electromagnetism

   10. Solid state physics

   11. Thermodynamics

   12. Statistical mechanics

   13. Materials science

   14. Systems engineering

   15. Control theory

   16. Quantum mechanics

   17. Mechanical engineering

   18. Electrical engineering (especially VLSI circuit design, microfabrication, and quantum electronics)

   19. Computer science (including algorithms, data structures)

   20. Software engineering (including numerical simulation methods, highly-parallel computing systems, interface design)

   21. Robotics

   22. Calculus

   23. Differential equations

   24. Linear algebra

   25. Classical mechanics

   [This list is drawn from http://foresight.org/Updates/Briefing1.html]

    

4. How does nanotechnology work?

   1. Scaling laws

   2. Bonding and reactivity of atoms

   3. Forms of energy (e.g. thermal, ionic bonds)

   4. Direct manipulation (SEM, STM, AFM, dip pen nanolithography)

   5. Carbon nanotubes

   6. Molecular mimics (catenanes, rotaxanes, switches, rotors, flippers, shuttles)

   7. Optical and electronic interaction: Nanoelectronics

   8. Self-assembly & catalysis

   9. Self-replication

   10. Simulation, cellular automata (to predict behavior during engineering development)

   11. Quantum (Mechanics, Computation)

   12. Interface (scale, communication, power, precursors & cofactors)

   13. Biomimicry and comparisons to natural systems (factory size : product size, electric motors on surface of mitochondria)

   14. Resilience, fault tolerance, self-healing, and continuous maintenance

    

5. How does nanotechnology change?

   1. Autocatalysis (MEMS to NEMS)
   2. Advantage, Compatibility, Risk, Visibility
   3. “Biology will drive the future of information technology”
   4. Natural selection & memes

    

6. How does nanotechnology change us?

   1. Health & lifespan
   2. Work & recreation
   3. Perception of reality
   4. Nature of the species and its survival

    

7. How do we change nanotechnology?

   1. Scientist (many disciplines + interdisciplinary)

   2. Engineer

   3. Manager

   4. Investor

   5. Promoter or activist

   6. Teacher

   7. Regulator (legislator or judge)

    

8. What are nanotechnology's costs & benefits?

   1. Enabler vs. Crutch

   2. Complexity vs. Predictability

   3. Catastrophic vs. Chronic

   4. Control vs. Freedom (e.g. disclosure vs. privacy)

   5. Progress vs. Obsolescence

    

9. How do we evaluate nanotechnology?

   1. Survival

   2. Mythology

   3. Power

   4. Authority

   5. Economic

   6. Ecologic