The first response of industrial science is: how can these discoveries help resolve any of the big challenges we have today? Those challenges include:
- Sorting substances or changing
their flow "molecule by molecule." (See Nanotechnology
Pistons) A diamond barrier could keep things out.
- Making materials lighter and stronger
(See the article on positional
control) Diamond fibers would be useful in airplane construction.
Diamonds would be better than silicon for computer chips, but we can't make them now.
- Making materials smaller
- Moving substances through a barrier.
The illustration below shows one scientists view of a molecular
pump.
- Making materials chemically react
more quickly
- Improving resistance to heat and cold. See Record Holding Proteins
