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Hard Or Soft Nanotech?
The answer seems to be (unsurprisingly, at least to me) both. And that's good news, since many have claimed "neither."
Posted by Rand Simberg at April 09, 2007 06:33 AM
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Comments
What's the distinction between "hard" or "wet"? The method of assembly?
Other than that, why would it be a significant difference?
Posted by B.Brewer at April 9, 2007 08:01 AM
They come from entirely different approaches. One uses existing biological building blocks, and the other is more "top-down" mechanical engineering.
Posted by Rand Simberg at April 9, 2007 08:13 AM
Nice to know which form of grey goo is going to off the species. :D
Posted by Brian Swderski at April 9, 2007 10:34 AM
I believe there is also a contrast in the relative stiffness of the materials: proteins (comparable to wood) vs "diamondoid" structures many times stronger than steel.
Posted by Jay Manifold at April 9, 2007 11:34 AM
'Hard' nanotech is otherwise known as lithography.
Posted by Adrasteia at April 9, 2007 10:47 PM
One is more or less the conceptual Fourier transform of the other, so you could even say they're the same thing.
Posted by Carl Pham at April 10, 2007 02:56 PM
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