<p>What Happened to NanoTech?</p>
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<p>	I remember the first day that I was introduced to the concept of respirocytes. &nbsp;It was 1996 and I was on my way to Iraq as an Airman in the United States Air Force. &nbsp;We had to land our C-5 Galaxy in Detroit due to a minor engine problem and had been allowed access to the local civilian airport for a few hours. &nbsp;I spent my time stretching my legs before the long flight ahead. &nbsp;I stopped to watch Headline News for just a bit and this is when my entire scope of life as I knew it changed forever.</p>
<p>	It wasn't the lead story, that was probably conserved for my future destination at the time, but it was an interesting piece over respirocytes. &nbsp;It explained that these microscopic robots that were recently developed by world leading scientists would soon give everyone all kinds of amazing superhuman powers. &nbsp;I remember the news caster being quasi-awe-struck as he stated that we would be able to hold our breath underwater for hours at a time, run for miles without getting tired, or able to survive for long periods after having a heart-attack giving emergency technicians plenty of time to usher us to health. &nbsp;I had to know more.</p>
<p>	Unfortunately, back then, we didn't have Google, and even if we did I was on my way to the dessert for nine months. &nbsp;My research into this previously unknown realm of science would have to wait… … and wait it did… … and were still waiting.</p>

![Respirocytes_nanotecnology.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVTZvuWFfJYAMNod8KuWWqADDd9RMWcHZ619yjpH7cEzY/Respirocytes_nanotecnology.jpg)

<p>	Respirocytes are hypothetical nano-machines capable of behaving like a red blood cell in humans. It could be used to augment or replace entirely our own red blood cells as a carrier of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. &nbsp;The original version of the refereed paper describing respirocytes was first submitted for publication on 17 April 1996. © Copyright 1996 Robert A. Freitas Jr. This is the revised version of that 1996 paper that can be found @ http://www.foresight.org/Nanomedicine/Respirocytes.html.</p>
<p>	It is now 2017, twenty-one years later. &nbsp;What happened, why didn't this incredible technology ever take root? &nbsp;There are quite a few different reasons that we aren't there yet. &nbsp;The main factor being the technology that manipulates nano-materials just isn't as advanced as it needs to be. &nbsp;Even though we don't have the medical marvel that would be respirocytes, we actually have some pretty amazing things going on in the field. &nbsp;Many that you know about, its just not common knowledge that it was an advancement in nanotech that brought it to you.</p>
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<p>Sunscreen - Remember when this stuff use to be as pasty as Elmer’s Glue? &nbsp;Now we have the smooth spray on stuff that you can barely feel against your skin that works 10x better. &nbsp;This is because of nanoscale partials of titanium dioxcide.</p>
<p>Vegetables - Keeping fresh veggies have never been easier than it is today because we found out that nanoscale silver particles have amazing anti-microbial properties. &nbsp;They are also put in bandaids and washing machines.</p>
<p>Water Purification - Amazing advancements that can clean dirty water (and I mean very dirty water) without using any chemicals but simply filtering through a new carbon based nano material.</p>
<p>	It may not be quite the super powers that I thought I would have by now, but there should be no doubt that we will eventually get there. &nbsp;If you would like to know more about recent advances in Nanotech, I would suggest keeping up with Quinn Spadola, PhD. &nbsp;She is a biophysicist and Technology Policy Fellow in the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office from 2014 to 2016, she has some excellent and very informative videos. &nbsp;</p>
<p>	As always, thank you for your time. &nbsp;Feel free to up vote and resteem if you enjoyed my article. &nbsp;</p>
Stephen C. Jamison

Tranhumanist/Futurist
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