Nanorobots Reproduce: World Enters Tech Singularity

Researchers have successfully demonstrated a new nanorobot that is programmed using DNA and has the ability to capture and connect DNA fragments. The nanorobot is able to use ultraviolet welding to create new nanomachines, including copies of itself.

According to a report in the journal New Scientist, these nanorobots, known as nano-Reductions, are made up of four DNA threads and measure only 100 nanometers in size. This means that thousands of these robots could fit within a single hair.

A team of researchers from New York University, the Institute of Biomechanical Engineering, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed these nanorobots that are more advanced than previous models. Unlike earlier versions that could only collect parts in two-dimensional forms, these new nanobots have the ability to use precise folding and positioning techniques to access the third dimension and more degrees of freedom.

These nanobots hold great promise for various applications, including drug and chemical production, potentially even within body cells. However, researchers caution that these machines are still limited in their ability to fully understand and utilize their 3D structure and functions.

While the nanorobots are programmable, they rely on externally controlled temperature and ultraviolet light. The light is necessary for “welding” the collected DNA parts together.

Currently, the nanorobots are unable to create copies of themselves or other structures without a sufficient number of DNA fragments. This is the only limitation preventing the full potential of these nanobots.

Nevertheless, this breakthrough in nanorobotics provides a glimpse into the future and the impending era of technological singularity. It opens up countless possibilities and advancements that await us.