Nanotubes 'don't like' to climb steps

The Jerusalem Post ^

[ddtorque]

Tiny nanotubes are big news in science. Now a research group headed by Dr. Ernesto Joselevich of the Weizmann Institute of Science has developed a new approach to create patterns of carbon nanotubes by having them form along atomic steps on sapphire surfaces.

"The orientation and form of the atomic steps on a crystal surface can be controlled by the cutting process, and defects can be created artificially," says Joselevich. "It should thus be possible to produce different nanowire arrangements in a controlled fashion."

[LibertyGirl77]

bookmarked for future reading

[fat city]

They seem to go downstairs ok:

[BCrago66]

I'm a lot like nanotubes. I hate climbing steps.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Carbon nanotubes can be made from any type of carbon, like coal.

To give you guys an idea of how strong carbon nanotubes are, it makes titanium look like tin foil. It is from a strength-to-weight ratio to steel, carbon nanotubes are 600 times stronger than steel.

And that's without adding alloys and ceramics to it, which can make it hundreds of times stronger than that.

And here is the kicker, under the right conditions, carbon nanotubes can repair themselves at the molecular level.

Then there are silicon nanotubes which are 50 times smaller than carbon nanotubes that are so small that it can actually carry lightwaves like modern cables can transfer electric impluses, for light-process based computer with artifical diamonds for CPUs.

These are next generation materials that are going to revolutionize the building and eletronic industries.

[OSHA]

These are next generation materials that are going to revolutionize the building and eletronic industries.

Only if they can keep them from laying around in the basement because they're afraid to climb the stairs.

[No Longer Free State]

To give you guys an idea of how strong carbon nanotubes are, it makes titanium look like tin foil. It is from a strength-to-weight ratio to steel, carbon nanotubes are 600 times stronger than steel.

Now, if they can only get them to grow onto the sides of a HMMWV...

[BCrago66]

I ain't no fancy engineer like you apparently are, but if you say these nanotubes can "repair themselves at the molecular level" - isn't that a feature normally found in things that are....alive?

[misterrob]

Nanoscience involves with working at the molecular and even atomic level. When you get that small all sorts of interesting things happen.

[dpwiener]

I ain't no fancy engineer like you apparently are, but if you say these nanotubes can "repair themselves at the molecular level" - isn't that a feature normally found in things that are....alive?

Once nanotubes start to reproduce themselves, they will take over the world. They are 600 times stronger than steel -- nothing can stop them. They will consume human flesh and "mine" all living material, be it plant or animal, for the carbon atoms. They'll insert their tubular tendrils into our bodies while we sleep. No place will be safe.

But enough! I better get to work on the screenplay before someone steals my idea.

[Hardastarboard]

"I got's ta git me a knife made outa thet 'ere" - quote from John F. Kerry, two days prior to the election.

[BCrago66]

I think you're talking about the "grey goo" problem. There's a couple sceenplays in the works about that already.

[Nateman]

Light waves are much too big for nanotubes. However they are strong enough for a really big dream: a space elevator

[dpwiener]

I think you're talking about the "grey goo" problem. There's a couple sceenplays in the works about that already.

Please quit trying to discourage me. This isn't the typical "grey goo" scenario, this is the "black filament" scenario. These are living (perhaps intelligent?) nanotubes which just seek out carbon atoms; they could care less about any other kinds of atoms. It's merely our tough luck that we're a carbon-based lifeform.