5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Explore the fascinating world of nanotechnology, March 7, 2006
This review is from: The Dance of Molecules: How Nanotechnology is Changing Our Lives (Hardcover)
Dance of the Molecules is an engaging and informative look at some of the more recent advances in nanotechnology and its real-world applications. The book is divided into three approximately equal sections: medicine, the environment, and communications. In the first section, Sargent examines the use of nanotechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. For example, scientists have been able to create microscopic beacons which attach themselves specifically to cancer cells, enabling earlier detection of certain kinds of cancer. Similarly, researchers have discovered ways to create a synthetic scaffolding around which tissue cells and eventually organs can grow. At some point in the near future, they may be able to put entire diagnostic and pharmaceutical labs on microchips that, when implanted in humans, could not only diagnose a problem but could also automatically concoct and dispense a drug that targets that specific problem.
The section on the environment explores the use of nanotechnology in power generation (specifically solar and hydrogen power) and biohazard detection. Nanotechnology is already being used in petroleum refineries, and may someday play a key role in cleaning up toxic and nuclear waste. Similarly (and perhaps not surprisingly) the U.S. military is investing heavily in nanotechnology whereby soldiers may one day wear suits that can automatically neutralize whatever biological and chemical weapons might be deployed against them.
The section on communication includes, among other things, a discussion of electronic sensory prostheses (e.g. artificial retinas that may someday enable blind people to see) and computing; specifically on ways of using improving transmission speed and efficiency using photons instead of electrons-think fiber optics applied to all of computing.
In many ways, the book is well-written. Sargent has taken a complex and technical literature and has made its insights available to most non-specialists. It is neither overly simplified nor prohibitively detailed. However, as one reviewer notes, at times he does try a bit too hard to be witty or amusing. For example, in describing synthetic scaffolds used to grow new tissue, he writes, "Since our organs vary widely...the scaffolds that tissue engineers create to promote growth of replacement organs also vary tremendously. These scaffolds do, however, share a common purpose: creating appealing spaces for cells to inhabit. Nice big lofts with high ceilings and attractive furnishings, yet comfy and cozy at the same time. Roomy without causing agoraphobia. They create a welcoming environment tailored to the cells of interest: chintz and a cat for pancreatic cells, glass and brushed steel for liver cells." (65) Done occasionally, this can be amusing. Done every few pages or so, it gets tedious.
Finally, I appreciate Sargent's occasional glances at the importance of viewing nanotechnology in its larger (e.g., ethical and social) context. I wish he would have included further discussion of this issue in his appendix. It is one thing to have the ability to pursue various technologies, yet another to be morally justified in doing so. One wonders about the morality of spending billions of dollars on researching diseases that currently have no cure while neglecting the millions, if not billions of people around the world who needlessly suffer from medical conditions that are already curable (e.g. malnutrition, intestinal parasites, polio, tuberculosis). However, since this is not the focus of Sargent's book, its lack of treatment (no pun intended) should not be taken as a criticism. I highly recommend The Dance of the Molecules for those seeking an informative and engaging look at new advances in nanotechnology.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An inviting introduction for non-scientist readers, April 24, 2006
This review is from: The Dance of Molecules: How Nanotechnology is Changing Our Lives (Hardcover)
Nanotechnology is talked about quite a bit and is reaching ever more into the daily news; but if you'd really understand its basics, don't miss the most readable THE DANCE OF MOLECULES: HOW NANOTECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING OUR LIVES. Author Ted Sargent is a visiting professor of nanotechnology but you'll be surprised to find his exploration is quite readable, discussing the latest potentials of nonotechnology experiments and research and equating this research to all disciplines of science. Both positives and perils are surveyed with easy examples and just enough in-depth discussion to make it useful for college supplementing reading.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing "Airplane View" of Nanotech, May 9, 2006
This review is from: The Dance of Molecules: How Nanotechnology is Changing Our Lives (Hardcover)
The author is an accomplished young scientist, who I believe was trying a little too hard to write an "accessible" book. The result is a high-level treatment of an admittedly complex topic, but one which doesn't carry the impact that his professional credentials could have delivered.
Much of the content of this book has already been published here and there in Journal articles and other websites -- I didn't read anything very new, in fact. At some point nanotechnology books will progress past the "Imagine if you could write THE WHOLE ENCYCLOPEDIA on the head of a pin!" scenario that Richard Feynman presented so neatly back in the 1950's.
This book takes a "let's re-create Greta Garbo at the molecular level" scenario as a jumping off point, which I found not only inappropriate, but just plain creepy. The author also strains for a feeling of hipness, or perhaps attempts to talk down to sixth-grade readers, and presents tortured metaphors at the close of paragraphs. If a photon needs to be nurtured and protected in captivity, then "Light is a panda." Yes, the metaphors really ARE that stupid in this book. Sad.
Here's to Ted's next book being better. One gets the feeling he is out for self-promotion as much as scientific progress: witness his web site. He may also have a Napoleon complex going on: witness the extreme up-angle on his publicity photo (which mirrors the up-angle on his nose). Vertically challenged, are we Ted? It is easy to be a giant if your field is nanotech!
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