nanotechnology: /nan'-oh-tek-no`l*-jee/ n. A hypothetical
fabrication technology in which objects are designed and built with
the individual specification and placement of each separate atom.
The first unequivocal nanofabrication experiments took place in
1990, for example with the deposition of individual xenon atoms on a
nickel substrate to spell the logo of a certain very large computer
company. Nanotechnology has been a hot topic in the hacker
subculture ever since the term was coined by K. Eric Drexler in his
book "Engines of Creation" (Anchor/Doubleday, ISBN 0-385-19973-2),
where he predicted that nanotechnology could give rise to
replicating assemblers, permitting an exponential growth of
productivity and personal wealth (there's an authorized
transcription at `http://www.foresight.org/EOC/index.html.'). See
also blue goo, gray goo, nanobot.
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