This article was taken from the November 2012 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by <span class="s1">subscribing online.
What is the best way to create objects from bits? That's a key question at the Media Lab's Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA), where researchers explore new ways to turn digital information (bits) into physical objects (atoms) and vice-versa. "One of the core themes is the idea of digitising fabrication," says Neil Gershenfeld, the CBA's director. "That's not only computers controlling tools; it's also about putting programs into materials themselves." To that end, Gershenfeld and his colleagues have programmed self-assembling strings of robotic modules and are now using biological proteins to create self-assembling nanostructures.
The CBA is home to an impressive collection of machines. In fact, it's the ultimate workshop, and it's freely available to researchers and students. "The freedom of access means they get used in a very different way from conventional settings," says Gershenfeld. "People get to play around more, which encourages speculative work." Your lab open day starts here.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
