Quantumaniac

The World’s Smallest Car

Researchers in the Netherlands have developed a car that is the size of a single molecule! Thus, it is invisible to the human eye - but still incredible impressive! The car itself is powered by short electrical pulses, powered by jolts of energy. For each half-turn of its wheels, the car is sent an individual boost of energy. 

“To build the nanotechnology of the future like nano robots, machines and transporters you need something to fuel it,’ said Ben Feringa, an organic chemistry professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and one of the scientists involved with the project.” There is a great incentive to build motors at the nano scale. There are many nano systems build from all kinds of materials, but this is, as far as we can tell, the first time a nano motor has been used to propel something by fueling it,’ Mr Ferniga continued. Although seemingly trivial, this is actually an amazing breakthrough; the ability to send electric pulses to ‘nanomotors’ could lead to tremendous technology in other fields. 

The basic chemical structure of this amazing little car.