This thought-provoking article opens by quoting a 1959 Richard Feynman speech in which he discussed the potential for manipulating individual atoms and molecules, and continues with a discussion of an expanded 1980s vision by Erik Drexler who postulated that such nanodevices could be induced into replicating themselves. As the authors note, Drexler was pilloried for ten years as a proponent of science fiction. Alas, all visionaries are subject to ridicule. (As a PhD student in the 1960s, I was accused of believing computers could be made in a test tube.)

The present work is an attempt to extend Drexler’s vision and the current actual work with nanodevices. The authors opine a future whereby the nanodevices extend their utility by availing themselves of a communication methodology. While the authors have not yet produced any techniques, they do discuss four areas where such communication networks could be useful: biological, industrial, environmental, and military. They then postulate several communication paradigms and discuss two: molecular (à la cellular within an organism) and electromagnetic (in the terahertz band). They believe molecular mechanisms existing in nature may be either copied in, or incorporated into, mechanical communication networks. They discuss the ways nature has used similar schemes and how they could be co-opted, and even discuss the use of pheromones to convey information.

When discussing the electromagnetic approach, the authors discuss the need for communication protocols operating on the nano level. Items such as antennae size and characteristics need to be addressed, as well as the actual embodiment of transmitters and receivers.

This bravura article is thoughtful and fearless. The authors, who are from a well-known electrical engineering school, are comfortable discussing some not-so-well-understood areas of biology and are to be commended for their vision. Time will tell whether they will be acclaimed or pilloried. If this paper results in further work, one can hope the former.