What are the “molecular machines” that were awarded the Nobel Prize for … – Nacional.com

What-so-tiny can be machines?

Three scientists were the first to demonstrate that they are able to be up to 1,000 times smaller than human hair.

this Is one of Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Fraser Stoddart and Bernard Feringa, the winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2016.

Each one, in his time, opened the doors to a new field of chemistry. The committee that grants the Nobel compared his efforts with the first attempts to develop electric motors in 1830, which gave rise to a real revolution.

These scientists from the universities of Strasbourg (France), Northwestern university (USA) and Groningen (the Netherlands), respectively, were awarded to design and synthesize the so-called “molecular machines”.

Are molecules with controllable movements that can perform a task when it is added to them energy and that can have multiple applications in industry, medicine and electrical services.

Nanomachines in our bodies

Can be used to develop new materials, sensors and systems for storing energy.

“Think of microbots, nanomachines in the future a doctor will be able to inject into the human body to search for cancer cells”, explained by way telfónica the Dutch Bernard Feringa, who did not hide his excitement and surprise at having been awarded.

“I feel like the Wright brothers who developed the first flying machines, and now we have the Airbus”, he added.

For something to be considered a machine, should consist of several parts quesemuevan in a coordinated manner and to develop a task.

Jean-Pierre Sauvage, who broke into this field by accident (at the beginning its field was the photochemistry), developed in 1994 a molecular chain -known as catenanor- in which a ring would rotate in a controlled manner around the other ring every time you applied power.

That same year, Fraser Stoddart, who grew up on a farm in Scotland without electricity, he was able to control the movements of the rings molecular united by a shaft.

While Ben Feringa, who also grew up on a farm, produced in 1999 the first molecular motor that revolved in a particular direction.

later, in 2011, his team built a nanoauto with a body of the molecule, which consisted of four wheels and could move on a surface.

what Revolution?

“The winners of the Nobel Chemistry have brought to the molecular systems of the stalemate they were in and brought them to the united full of energy in which it is possible to control the movements,” reads the press release of the Nobel prizes.

To the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, which awards the prizes, in terms of development-the molecular motor is at the same stage as the electric motor in the 1830s.

At that time, scientists exhibited several cranks and wheels moving in coordination without being aware that this would lead to the creation of electric trains, washing machines, fans, and processors of food.

But the winners of this year and yes we are aware delpotencial of molecular machines.

“In the future we will have all kinds of materials with autonomous functions,” says Feringa.

“What we need is to think about how to handle them safely.”

The award of almost$ 1 million will be awarded on the 10th of December and will be split evenly between the three winners.