Working in Small Numbers: The Behaviors That Emerge When Small Numbers of Bionanomachines Team Up

Abstract

Bionanomachines are very small, light machines made of proteins of approximately tens of nanometers (10⁻⁹ m) in length and weighing approximately 10⁻¹⁹ g. A single bionanomachine (1 molecule) has a small output at the level of piconewtons (10⁻¹² N), and its input is at the level of thermal energy; it functions in an environment that is constantly exposed to thermal noise. Machines made by humans differ greatly in terms of materials, size, and energy input and output. Let’s listen in on a family conversation about these extremely small, incredibly lightweight bionanomachines.