BUT I THOUGHT NANOTECHNOLOGY WAS IMPOSSIBLE — AND YET:

It’s useful to remember, though, that nature was nano before nano was cool. The latest evidence for this comes from researchers who have discovered that some cells create nanotubes to connect with others.

The researchers, from the University of Heidelberg in Germany and other European institutions, observed what they called tunneling nanotubes among embryonic human kidney cells and normal rat kidney cells.

The structures were 50 to 200 nanometers in diameter (at the upper end, about one 100-thousandths of an inch) and up to several cell diameters in length. Time-lapse videos show that the tubes form in several minutes when a slender protrusion from one cell contacts another cell.

Interesting. And in a self-replicating system, no less! Somebody tell Mark Modzelewski!

UPDATE: Speaking of this stuff, I’ve been remiss in not mentioning that Robert Freitas’ latest book on Nanomedicine is out. Volume I got a very positive review in The Lancet.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Phil Bowermaster writes: “Five years away is a reasonable time frame to start thinking about business applications. The Nano Business Alliance in general, and Modzelewski in particular, are running out of time to get their thinking straight on this issue.”

It’s not because people haven’t brought the matter to their attention.