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PODCAST · education

The Next Big Thing: Nanotechnology - for iPad/Mac/PC

by The Open University

How - and why - would you build a machine 10,000 times thinner than a human hair? This album features experts discussing the paradigm shift that is occurring in science. Scientists are learning to manipulate atoms on the scale of a billionth of a metre and control them to perform specific tasks. They can emulate biological and chemical systems to fabricate machines that will destroy cancer cells in the body, giving us nano-drugs of the future; and IBM is using nano-technology for information storage on a molecular scale. There are many other applications which will have a significant impact on the way we live. This album also provides an introduction to quantum computing and quantum mechanics. The material forms part of The Open University course S250 Science in context.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Apr 7, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. The Next Big Thing: Nanotechnology

    A short introduction to this album.

  2. The Next Big Thing

    Atomic scale engineering – facts and the fiction. A panel discussion chaired by Colin Blakemore.

  3. The Future is Bright

    The panel discuss the huge range of potential applications, from nano-computers to nano-devices to clean the body's arteries.

  4. "Buckyballs": Triggering a Nano-Revolution

    The exciting discovery in 1985 of an unknown form of carbon, the building blocks of today's nano world. Introducing the Electron and Scanning Tunnelling Microscopes in Cambridge.

  5. Quantum Mechanics

    How we can re-position atoms one by one to build a structure, and the tools needed to do it.

  6. Robots in Our Bodies?

    How we can begin to engineer nano-particles to fix medical problems inside the body.

  7. The New Machine Age

    The future of nano-technology; this mechanical revolution will emulate biological systems.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

How - and why - would you build a machine 10,000 times thinner than a human hair? This album features experts discussing the paradigm shift that is occurring in science. Scientists are learning to manipulate atoms on the scale of a billionth of a metre and control them to perform specific tasks. They can emulate biological and chemical systems to fabricate machines that will destroy cancer cells in the body, giving us nano-drugs of the future; and IBM is using nano-technology for information storage on a molecular scale. There are many other applications which will have a significant impact on the way we live. This album also provides an introduction to quantum computing and quantum mechanics. The material forms part of The Open University course S250 Science in context.

HOSTED BY

The Open University

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Next Big Thing: Nanotechnology - for iPad/Mac/PC have?

The Next Big Thing: Nanotechnology - for iPad/Mac/PC currently has 14 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The Next Big Thing: Nanotechnology - for iPad/Mac/PC about?

How - and why - would you build a machine 10,000 times thinner than a human hair? This album features experts discussing the paradigm shift that is occurring in science. Scientists are learning to manipulate atoms on the scale of a billionth of a metre and control them to perform specific tasks....

How often does The Next Big Thing: Nanotechnology - for iPad/Mac/PC release new episodes?

The Next Big Thing: Nanotechnology - for iPad/Mac/PC has 14 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to The Next Big Thing: Nanotechnology - for iPad/Mac/PC?

You can listen to The Next Big Thing: Nanotechnology - for iPad/Mac/PC on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts The Next Big Thing: Nanotechnology - for iPad/Mac/PC?

The Next Big Thing: Nanotechnology - for iPad/Mac/PC is created and hosted by The Open University.
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