In a world where materials and structures are built molecule by molecule, computer simulation is critical.
by Pamela J. Waterman
Getting a handle on nanotechnology is tricky, to say the least--both literally and figuratively. On a factor-of-10 scale, nanoparticles such as a DNA strand are about 10,000 times smaller than a red blood cell and 100,000 times smaller than a human hair. Or, as clarified so eloquently by Dr. Andrew Maynard in his Twinkie Guide to Nanotechnology video, comparing a DNA molecule to a Twinkie snack cake would give you roughly the same perspective as viewing a Twinkie sitting on Earth's moon.
Though science and industry have worked with nano-sized particles for several centuries (think colloidal gold giving color to stained glass windows in French cathedrals), this field of study couldn't really take off until the advent of scanning electron microscopes. But "seeing" nanoparticles is one thing--manipulating them, understanding them and using them in new ways is another. As with so many other fields of science and engineering, predicting material behavior with computer simulations can be not only insightful, but an absolute necessity. DE looks at the basics of nanotechnology, why it's increasingly important, and some current work done with nanotech simulations.
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