“Nano-dust” from Lem’s story has been created: it spies by gathering in the air

In 1963, Polish writer Stanislaw Lem, in his science fiction story “The Invincible,” presented a world where freely flying nanobots explore the atmosphere of distant planets. These microscopic creatures seem weak individually, but when united, they form a powerful swarm capable of gathering energy, reproducing, and defending against predators.

It seems hard to believe that an evolutionary parable about living dust could become a reality. Lem’s story inspired the creation of a real technology known as “smart dust.” Research began as part of the work of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which also develops technologies such as GPS navigation and the Internet.

Development and Application of the Technology

Engineers, including specialists from DARPA, are working on creating smart dust for use in various fields: from environmental monitoring to commercial mineral extraction. A recent review showed how significantly this technology has advanced over decades of research.

In the initial stages of development, the main focus was on creating simple wireless receivers comparable in size to a grain of rice. Decades later, scientists have managed to create almost invisible particles ranging from 1 to 0.02 cubic millimeters in size.

Modern Achievements

Since 2003, platforms such as MICA and “Spec” from the University of California, Berkeley, have been using smart dust to record various parameters, including humidity, light, and temperature. More recently, microscopic sensors have reached new achievements and learned to record sound levels. Currently, work is underway to develop dust particles capable of measuring the chemical composition of the air.

Scientists expect that in the future, such microscopic devices will be able to transmit vast amounts of data in three-dimensional environments.

Economic Prospects

According to analysts, the smart dust industry currently amounts to about 115 million dollars, and it is expected that by 2032 these figures will grow to nearly 400 million dollars.

Military Interests and the Future

Military agencies are interested in smart dust for reconnaissance purposes. However, most research is conducted in university and corporate laboratories. For example, the Israeli company Stardust Solutions considered the idea of blocking sunlight with smart dust, which sparked a lively discussion on international legislation in the field of geoengineering.

Nevertheless, the technology faces certain challenges. One of them is the limited range of the devices, as well as their short lifespan.

Amid these innovations, it became known that a scientifically based project could create a glowing forest, where each tree would emit light from within. Experiments have shown that thanks to a fungus that decomposes wood, it is possible to create a new, amazing source of light.