Archives

Awards

Sponsors

Links

Forums

E-mail us

Vive La Revolution!

This feature is known as “Fake Science Corner”. Some newspapers have a “Science Corner” where they answer reader’s questions about science, but that’s boring, and nobody ever remembers the explanations anyway. So we’ve taken the concept and upped the entertainment value. If you have a question you want us to answer on Fake Science Corner, write us at editors@finelineonline.com. This week, we answer questions about nanotechnology.

Q:What is nanotechnology?
A: Nanotechnology is basically the science of making really small things. Really, really small. No, even smaller than you're thinking.

Q: So what's the point?
A: Well, nanotechnology has many, many useful applications. For instance, we're close to solving the age-old riddle, "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" We've built a prototype AngelBot 9000, but so far we've only taught it to do the Macarena, and we figure that doesn't really count as dancing.

Q: Anything else?
A: We're also working on the Amazing X-0.001 Wireless Nanocam. It's like the X-10 you've seen ads for, but really, really small. Just slip it in someone's drink, and bam, instant live feed from their colon. Not so useful for watching women take their clothes off, but at least you can check them for worms and intestinal irregularities before you commit to anything.

Q: Um...anything remotely useful?
A: How about nanorobots that can disassemble the atoms from any source and build anything you want?

Q: Sounds cool! Where can I get some?
A: Well, right now, they're under development. They can disassemble anything, but so far all we've been able to build is paprika. Incidentally, if you know anyone who wants 500 tons of raw paprika, let us know. We've, uh, got a little extra lying around the office.

Q: I thought as much. So is that it?
A: There are some other products in development, but I've been instructed not to discuss them. Especially the Micro-Nuclear Pop Rocks. Wait, forget I said that. There's no such thing as Micro-Nuclear Pop Rocks, nor were there any gruesome accidents involved in the testing phase.








Copyright 2001 The Fine Line Online. See our disclaimer.