Utopian science...or techno-nightmare?

Dannyalcatraz · Dec 18, 2018

Apparently, MIT claims to have invented- for lack of a better term- shrink ray technology. They claim it uses a simple laser and that hyperabsorbent gel you find in things like diapers.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/17/us/mit-nanosize-technology-trnd/index.html

Tonguez · Dec 18, 2018

so its a gel in fancy dehydrator?

kewl but I dont think anyones about to go on a Fantastic Voyage

Umbran · Dec 18, 2018

Yeah. By the body of the report, this isn't a way to shrink existing objects, but an easier way to fabricate small objects.

Dannyalcatraz · Dec 18, 2018

I know it’s just a new fabrication method, but 1000x? Using common lab stuff?

In the hands of students infamous for hacks/pranks?

Umbran · Dec 18, 2018

Dannyalcatraz said:
I know it’s just a new fabrication method, but 1000x? Using common lab stuff?

In the hands of students infamous for hacks/pranks?

*shrug*. Folks say the same thing about 3d printers, but the universe has failed to collapse.

I think the point is that designing a mechanism that will function at the small size is a major piece of work. It is not like they will be albe to spray some stuff on a gel framework of a car, and then have a working 1/1000 scale working Ferrari.

Richards · Dec 19, 2018

You're right - to do that you'd definitely need some Pym particles.

Johnathan

Dannyalcatraz · Dec 19, 2018

Umbran said:
*shrug*. Folks say the same thing about 3d printers, but the universe has failed to collapse.

I think the point is that designing a mechanism that will function at the small size is a major piece of work. It is not like they will be albe to spray some stuff on a gel framework of a car, and then have a working 1/1000 scale working Ferrari.

Give the MITers enough time and...