Just finished up this book and have a quick question (that gives away nothing of the plot): In assembling a molecule, Mr. C states that they needed 10^25th parts. Yet he was describing constructing nano-machines smaller than a red blood cell. What kind of parts might he be talking about since 6.022X10^23rd is one gram molecular weight? Assuming protons and electrons in even numbers, that still comes out to ~8 grams per molecule. That doesn't sound very nano to me. What am I missing here?
I think you missed nothing, I think it is Mr. Crichton who missed a science education here. A molecule consists of between 2 and ... thousands, millions of parts. But the number 10^25 is ridiculously large since, as you correctly pointed out, 10^25 protons weigh in at several grams (mass proton is apx. 10<sup>-27</sup> kg). The aim of nano-technology would be rather to have "machines" that consist only of several thousand or even one-hundred thousand atoms. If you take into account that the atomic distance in a solid is roughly 10<sup>-10</sup> meters, you would only be allowed 1000 (10 times 10 times 10) atoms to stay within one cubic nanometer Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!. Bye! Crisp
No, he wouldn't be because force-carrying particles (like photons and gluons) would not be considered to be 'parts' of the device. Prey, like all sci-fi novels, requires some suspension of disbelief when you read it. I thought it was a good book, despite any scientfic errors.
Yes, if you are watching a movie then you're probably also not looking at all the small scientific errors, the same goes for reading a book ofcourse Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!... Just lean back and enjoy! Bye! Crisp
Yeah, I put this in the sci-fi forum originally to discuss the book itself, then never got around to giving an opinion. It is a pretty good book, and I'm happy to suspend belief willingly throughout and not question the science so that the story can be told. That said, there were some plot flaws that bugged me, like when it seems certain parties are against X happening, and then are later revealed to be for X happening in a big way. I missed the transition, maybe, when their motivations actually changed, or else the tale really does have a couple sizeable flaws. Note: why talk about X? Don't want to give anything away for those who haven't read it.
