Hacking Matter

I just finished a fascinating book about the research done on quantum wells (condensed particle physics), and the implications for materials in the future. The book is named Hacking Matter, by Will McCarthy.

Imagine materials that were composed of arrays of namometer scale quantum wells. The quantum well's physical properties depend upon the number of electrons it holds -- each one is a big atom. You can manipulate the number of electrons in a quantum well through electrical current. So an array of these wells could behave like a thin layer of gold atoms, and then by shifting the current it can become transparent glass. The effect is matter that can be manipulated like a computer program. A wall becomes a window or a Peltier transformer or part of a quantum computer. A contact lens could be an information display device.

The implications are staggering. McCarthy does a good job in the book both explaining the physics and painting possible applications. Clarke's third law of technology says "Technology, sufficiently advanced, is indistinguishable from magic." Hackable matter is magic.

So why am I writing about quantum wells on a blog meant to encourage Christian men?

Because it is critical that we help our children and our wives develop a thinking framework that has a God-oriented, biblical framework. The days are coming when it is harder and harder to explain what makes humans unique and special in the universe. Even today we have to really THINK about why we believe marriage between one man and one woman is correct, and what are the limits of man's dominion over the earth and one another.

Even as late as the 1500's it was possible for a learned man to master everything written in books. The amount of information is doubling about every 4 years now. Now we need to help ourselves and our families think from first principles. The information doubling rate is expected to drop to 1 year by 2015. If you can't think through issues from first principles, you'll be helpless against articulate fact-givers, however ungodly.