Researchers create a nanobot-controlling "brain"

Our inevitable incorporation into the gray goo inches ever closer today, as researchers in Japan have developed a chemical brain that can control up to eight nanomachines -- and one day could control thousands. The "brain" is actually a ring of 17 duroquinone molecules, which together measure just two nanometers across. Each molecule can be rotated to four different positions, controlled by the state of the center molecule. In tests, researchers were able to simultaneously control eight nanomachines using the brain, compelling them to dock and undock from the brain. The structure of the brain also means up to 4 billion possible configurations can be switched simply by manipulating one molecule, which may eventually give rise to computing applications -- but those are limited for now, since issuing instructions involves the use of scanning tunnel microscopy. That's a relief -- gray was never really our color anyway.

[Ayman @ Mar 11th 2008 4:21PM]

and the Matrix comes closer :
Red Pill please

[Raheem @ Mar 11th 2008 4:29PM]

You're ready for the truth. The truth is...

The Universe is nothing but a fleeting thought in the mind of a large platypus. THE platypus.

[James @ Mar 11th 2008 4:30PM]

Didnt scientists learn anything from that movie? I dont feel like being robot fuel.

[DownwardMonkey @ Mar 11th 2008 5:17PM]

No one learnt anything from that movie

[rv @ Mar 11th 2008 7:22PM]

Here's what I didn't get about the movie. The matrix has you, but you still live a normal life. The real world sucks, its all blacked out and covered by machines. So, why try to stop it. The matrix isn't so bad compared to living in the shithole zion.

[webon @ Mar 12th 2008 5:03AM]

@rv

I'm thinking the same thing. Actually, I've been thinking it ever since I got here. Why, oh, why, didn't I take the blue pill?

[ReggieXuk @ Mar 11th 2008 4:55PM]

You think thats scary, some scientists have made a machine that could possibly generate black wholes. Im serious, even though they know black wholes can be any size they want.

[stickmanfc73_ @ Mar 11th 2008 5:00PM]

It's not scary since they don't last long enough OR are big enough to do anything. Be more worried about the grey goo man... the GREY GOO!

[Shadyman @ Mar 11th 2008 5:02PM]

Black, whole whats?

[macona @ Mar 11th 2008 5:08PM]

It might make black "Wholes" The rest of the time the machine makes black halves?

[Derek @ Mar 11th 2008 5:16PM]

Black whole? Don't you mean black HOLE. Whole means all of... lol.

[BEN! @ Mar 11th 2008 6:01PM]

ReggieXuk: You think thats scary, some scientists have made a machine that could possibly generate black WHoles.
Kevin: You mean holes?
ReggieXuk: WHat?
Kevin: I just don't understand why you're saying it that way.
ReggieXuk: WHy am I saying WHat *WHat* WHay?

[trentyn @ Mar 11th 2008 10:32PM]

do you think it can turn MJ back Whole??

[eggothewaffle @ Mar 11th 2008 4:56PM]

Morally unacceptable! But perhaps this will improve the enemy AI in Doom...

[ReggieXuk @ Mar 11th 2008 4:56PM]

*holes*

[ReggieXuk @ Mar 11th 2008 6:41PM]

you guys couldn't take like 2 seconds to read the correction below my 1st post.

[brian @ Mar 11th 2008 5:00PM]

the cake is a lie.

[samphex @ Mar 11th 2008 7:10PM]

when will eople stop dong ths crap with all the internet quotes?
FAIL!
POW3ND!

[IndiaTech @ Mar 11th 2008 5:07PM]

Resistance is Futile...

[Hraefn @ Mar 11th 2008 5:14PM]

I don't know why people are still so worried about the grey goo scenario. It's never going to happen -- our future overlords need servants, after all.

[Samurai Jack @ Mar 11th 2008 5:33PM]

Seems to me a better application of this technology would be in creating tailored drugs. Imagine a nanobrain that can shape its charges to fit a specific protein receptor or mimic a certain proteins geometry. This could be a great way to deliver fast treatments for certain diseases.

Of course it could also be used as a pretty devastating bioweapon, but let's not go down that path just now.

[sevendegrees @ Mar 11th 2008 5:42PM]

i hope in the future we can use this technology to help people,that are paralyzed and stuff.

i dont think nano tech will help my pc play crysis at 60fps though :/

[mushrooshi @ Mar 11th 2008 6:09PM]

I first read Brain-controlling Nanobot.

[MichaelD @ Mar 11th 2008 6:24PM]

"A tiny chemical "brain" which could one day act as a remote control for swarms of nano-machines has been invented."

Swarms? For once the original article sounds more sci-fi evil overlord-ish than engadget itself.

"We have clear cut evidence that we can control those machines,"

That's what they all say--until the Machine decides that the perfect Brain shouldn't take orders from flawed "organics".

I don't know about you, but I'm getting my cybernetic suit on before Mother Brain comes after me.

[m.edgar @ Mar 11th 2008 6:37PM]

How do they get the 4 billion number?

Each 'endcap' has 4 bits (4 bits which can be docked/undocked)=2^8=256. The centre molecule has 16 bits, giving 2^16 permutation. Combine this, and I get 16777216 permutations, not 4 billion...

[cap'n @ Mar 11th 2008 8:53PM]

sounds like the floppy disc of '08. just wait...

[YoNer @ Mar 11th 2008 10:09PM]

Should Skynet go online over this?

[1D @ Mar 12th 2008 11:12AM]

Hey..does this mean that the Jetsons Space car in a suitcase is possible