How Machines the Size of Molecules Could Change the World

Future advances in engineering may come from chemistry. From molecular motors to salt-shaker-drug-deliverers, the future looks small.

Hosted by: Stefan Chin

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Dooblydoo thanks go to the following Patreon supporters: Jerry Perez, Lazarus G, Sam Lutfi, Kevin Knupp, Nicholas Smith, D.A. Noe, alexander wadsworth, سلطان الخليفي, Piya Shedden, KatieMarie Magnone, Scott Satovsky Jr, Charles Southerland, Bader AlGhamdi, James Harshaw, Patrick D. Ashmore, Candy, Tim Curwick, charles george, Saul, Mark Terrio-Cameron, Viraansh Bhanushali. Kevin Bealer, Philippe von Bergen, Chris Peters, Justin Lentz
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[annaliseoconner]

This was one of the most intriguing SciShow topics I've seen in a while! Concise narration and graphics made it simple to keep up! Thank you for this insightful episode!

[H.A.R.D.B.O.I.L.E.D]

Someday we can finally explain everything with "Nanomachines, son!"

[christophera]

We actually got a 2 hour lecture from the Nobel price winnerslast year. It was really interesting to hear how they overcame some of the hurdles and how the car actually looked and funktion. They also took up some possible applications for it in the future.

[ChristiaanDurosukaBurger]

This! This is the cool future stuff I wanna see more of!

[SgtRooooster]

I've been waiting for a video on molecular machines. Off to do a PhD in them in a few months.

[tommeng]

Water: Sorry, I can't be with you
Oil: Is it because I am fat???
Water and oil: XD

[justajokeforme]

I still dont get why youtube algorithms recommends me videos from 2 years ago that I have already watched

[Master_Therion]

Someone tried to tell me that nanotechnology was going to be "the next big thing."
I told him to stop being an oxymoron.

[artemkras]

Self-replicating molecular machines have already took over the world. That's us.

[FloozieOne]

In 1991 I did my graduating paper on nano-technology. It was incredibly difficult to find papers and research on this as it was basically a new field, but it was totally fascinating. Unfortunately I didn't end up studying this long-term but became a radiographer (X-ray tech) and went into a completely different type of physics. When I read about the progress made today in the nano field I often regret not staying with it, but I didn't graduate until I was 38 and a bit too old for all the years of study it would have taken just to get started. Today I can read about it an just marvel.

[schtinky]

Jokes on you. I'm watching this on a projector, I'm not staring at a machine.

[darrylarthur]

Stephan you are an excellent host. thanks and shout outs to all the hosts of scishow. thanks to the patrons(wish I could afford it) and thanks to everyone that makes scishow possible! cheers from meaford Canada. love the show guys keep up the good work

[Kreidark]

what a surprising episode haha every time i thought it couldn't get any further

[tommart]

Now imagine the following scenario. Highly evolved civilization designed molecular machines with one encoded purpose: multiply and improve. They then put them on a spaceship and sent them towards newly formed planet.

Molecular machine started creating more and more complicated molecules. They learned how to start simple chemical reactions. Some machines specialised in one task and some in other. They started joining to be more self sufficient, improved. They used the most reactive elements as it was easy to start them reacting. Carbon was perfect for the task.

Now, billions of years passed. The original civilization it's long gone. Molecular machines had grown in size. They now can do amazing things. Some of them, the most improved, can make reactions so powerful that they can leave the surface of the planet they are on. They even visited other space object, the Moon. They also came up with an idea: lets make some molecular machines!

[quagliumquagnarr]

Nanomachines < Mighty mitochondria (Powerhouse of the Cell)

[TommoCarroll]

Well chemistry book, you failed us. MECHANICAL BOND!?

[OctorokSushi]

Man this was awesome, it boggles the mind to imagine being able to do something on such a small scale.

[riverbender]

What an excellent channel this is. Well done!

[brandanclifford]

I wish I had friends like you guys. I've spent hours watching and learning and trying to talk to people about these vids and the ideas they may propose or show and nobody has the intelligence needed to have a great conversation. Not that there dumb but they don't find this stuff interesting at all.

[Friendly]

This is amazing, it's like discovering a whole new world.