NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't really want to get too technical but I have a question. First, no making fun of me for my lack of scientific understanding of pretty much anything (well aside from a basic knowledge of limited subjects). But say a person was infused with nanotechnology, could those nano(bits? bytes?) be powered by sugar entering the system? I know it's a weird question but I had this idea for a story that I'd rather not get into.

Also, if this is a completely flawed piece of reasoning, it'd be helpful to know that.

I think it would depend on what type of power the Nanites would be useing. Fusion, Chemical Reaction, bioelectrical...

I think it would depend on what type of power the Nanites would be useing. Fusion, Chemical Reaction, bioelectrical...
Well, you see: I know nothing about the subject. I'd like to learn more, of course, but I wasn't sure how to google this particular question. Bioelectrical sounds like it would make the most sense?

Possibly. The nanite would need to be of biological origin to harness the energy released from the sugar. Bacteria live in your intestine, breaking down and living off of what passes through your stomach. Artificial, non-biological nanites have not been created as of yet, so they remain a purely hypothetical concept.

neither do I. I'm going purely by Sci Fi here.

if bioelectrical, then it would have to tap into the hosts neurosystem.

if Chemical then the bloodstream should provide what it needs (adrenaline, endorphins etc.) or the digestive tract (food being turned into real fuel)

if Fusion....

man, that would give Heartburn a whole new level of pain.

It would be hard to get a mechanical thing to use the sugar. Then you have the problem of where the burned [or whatever] sugar goes.

Claim the nanites are powered by adenosine triphosphate(ATP) packs built into them. ATP is a biomolecule that cells use for energy. I'm vaguely remembering this from a book I read. Though I really should know more about ATP.

neither do I. I'm going purely by Sci Fi here.

if bioelectrical, then it would have to tap into the hosts neurosystem.

if Chemical then the bloodstream should provide what it needs (adrenaline, endorphins etc.) or the digestive tract (food being turned into real fuel)

if Fusion....

man, that would give Heartburn a whole new level of pain.
LOL
Well, it seems its pretty much not a locked down situation. I can't make the story very scientific anyway, it was just going to be the explanation for why such a large intake of sugar was needed.

Claim the nanites are powered by adenosine triphosphate(ATP) packs built into them. ATP is a biomolecule that cells use for energy. I'm vaguely remembering this from a book I read. Though I really should know more about ATP.
Cool, I'll definitely look into that.

I don't really want to get too technical but I have a question. First, no making fun of me for my lack of scientific understanding of pretty much anything (well aside from a basic knowledge of limited subjects). But say a person was infused with nanotechnology, could those nano(bits? bytes?) be powered by sugar entering the system? I know it's a weird question but I had this idea for a story that I'd rather not get into.

Also, if this is a completely flawed piece of reasoning, it'd be helpful to know that.
It could be, but it would have to be able to transfer the energy from the sugar into an energy that it could use, and that would be tricky. It would be easier to just add on a battery or something to the bot.

Claim the nanites are powered by adenosine triphosphate(ATP) packs built into them. ATP is a biomolecule that cells use for energy. I'm vaguely remembering this from a book I read. Though I really should know more about ATP.
But then the thing would have to be biological. We can't really make a biomechanical thing like that yet.

...Sure, I suppose. Make a mech-mitochondrion or something, I'm not totally clear on the breakdown of sugar for energy...I should look it up on Wiki.

But then the thing would have to be biological. We can't really make a biomechanical thing like that yet.
We can't really make anything a few nanometres in size so like that matters.

Claim the nanites are powered by adenosine triphosphate(ATP) packs built into them. ATP is a biomolecule that cells use for energy. I'm vaguely remembering this from a book I read. Though I really should know more about ATP.
This is what they would be powered by, but how would the nanobots get access to the ATP?

Would they absorb some of the body's cells and harvest the energy from them, or have their own mitochondria? Also, if they started taking resources from the body, what would stop the immune system from just attacking and destroying the nanobots?

...Sure, I suppose. Make a mech-mitochondrion or something, I'm not totally clear on the breakdown of sugar for energy...I should look it up on Wiki.
I guess I should give you guys all a hint on the type of story this is. It involves cops and a lot of donuts.

We can't really make anything a few nanometres in size so like that matters.

It doesn't actually have to scale in nanometers...micrometers would be more likely, it's the nano-components really...

...Sure, I suppose. Make a mech-mitochondrion or something, I'm not totally clear on the breakdown of sugar for energy...I should look it up on Wiki.
Crap, I should know that too.

Basically, the energy is stored between the 2nd and third phospate. You break this, and creat dtp. you get the energy, then another phospate is added and the process repeats.

i think.

bio ended almost a month ago.

Basically, the energy is stored between the 2nd and third phospate. You break this, and creat dtp. you get the energy, then another phospate is added and the process repeats.

i think.

bio ended almost a month ago.

I thought it was ADP, not DTP. The T is "tri-" isn't it?

I thought it was ADP, not DTP. The T is "tri-" isn't it?
*doh*
yea, i was chaning the first one to di, didnt stop to think that tri starts with a t.

I knew I could get the help I needed on Nationstates. Thanks. Now I just have to decipher what the hell you all have been saying :).

I knew I could get the help I needed on Nationstates. Thanks. Now I just have to decipher what the hell you all have been saying :).
is this for a story?

is this for a story?
Yeah. I used to be pretty good writer but I've spent years not practicing. I'm trying to get into it again.

Yeah. I used to be pretty good writer but I've spent years not practicing. I'm trying to get into it again.

When you're done with that, you can write my story I thought of in a dream but forgot most of and then only wrote the first half-page of.

Yeah. I used to be pretty good writer but I've spent years not practicing. I'm trying to get into it again.
ever seen Jake 2.0?

the nanites were getting their energy from the same source he was. the food he was eating. so he ended up eating more, but was stronger, faster and healed quicker.

then there are those that needed implants to keep the nanties functioning (Cyberpunk RPG)

When you're done with that, you can write my story I thought of in a dream but forgot most of and then only wrote the first half-page of.
I wrote One (1) fanfic... and only one person out side of family read it. :p

I don't really want to get too technical but I have a question. First, no making fun of me for my lack of scientific understanding of pretty much anything (well aside from a basic knowledge of limited subjects). But say a person was infused with nanotechnology, could those nano(bits? bytes?) be powered by sugar entering the system? I know it's a weird question but I had this idea for a story that I'd rather not get into.

Also, if this is a completely flawed piece of reasoning, it'd be helpful to know that.


If you're writing a story it doesn't have to be 100% scientific fact.

It sounds reasonable enough for a story or movie.

When you're done with that, you can write my story I thought of in a dream but forgot most of and then only wrote the first half-page of.
If you're serious and it's something I'm interested in, sure. Only don't expect too much.

Then you would be discussing bio-nanotech, which is a much more complicated feild than straight nanotech. Theoretically possible, yes, but extremely complicated.

Then you would be discussing bio-nanotech, which is a much more complicated feild than straight nanotech. Theoretically possible, yes, but extremely complicated.
But for a story, would I really have to get into it very deeply if it weren't science fiction motivated?

But for a story, would I really have to get into it very deeply if it weren't science fiction motivated?
That depends mostly on your writing style. If you enjoy writing a lot of exposition, then yes, you'd have to get into it somewhat. If you enjoy sticking to scientific fact, then you'd have to tread carefully.

Buuut...if you're not much of an exposition person, then no, you don't really.