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"The principles of physics, as far as I can see, do not speak against the possibility of maneuvering things atom by atom. It is not an attempt to violate any laws; it is something, in principle, that can be done; but in practice, it has not been done because we are too big." – Richard Feynman
In Metal Gear Solid 4, an advanced battlefield control network called "Sons of the Patriots" monitors and enhances the performance of soldiers deployed in combat via nanomachines injected in their body. Octo-camo, a form of smart camouflage, can replicate both the pattern and texture of any surface it comes in contact with. Even with the rapid development of modern nanotechnology, it all sounds little bit far-fetched doesn't it? What if I told you it wasn't?
The origins of Nano
Something big (or rather small) took place at Caltech University on December 29th, 1959. Physicist Richard Feynman spoke for the first time about the manipulation of matter on a very small scale. He discussed the possibility of handling individual atoms in a highly controlled manner, which inspired the beginnings of a new and fascinating field of study known as nanotechnology.
What Exactly is Nanotechnology?
Simply put nanotechnology deals with things that are very small. To put it into context, nano-sized particles are 50, 000 times smaller than a human hair. The nano-scale is home to microscopic particles such as viruses, DNA, and proteins. For the last 20 years or so, scientists have been busy producing synthetic nanoparticles for a wide variety of applications, and can now found in over 500 consumer products, ranging from socks to makeup. Nanotechnology is quickly becoming an inescapable part of modern everyday life.
Nanotechnology in Popular Fiction
Due to the growing awareness of nanotechnology by the general public, nanomaterials are becoming more common in popular works of fiction as well. Nanotechnology is often incorporated to explain unrealistic events and promote the suspension of disbelief, appearing in a number of books, television, film and more recently in videogames. Of all the videogames dealing with nanotechnology, Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid 4 is the undisputed king.
"It is a staggeringly small world that is below. In the year 2000, when they look back at this age, they will wonder why it was not until the year 1960 that anybody began seriously to move in this direction." – Richard Feynman
Metal Gear Solid 4 - Guns of the Patriots
Metal Gear Solid 4 (MGS4) takes place in 2014, following the development of a worldwide war economy, fought by private military companies. Elite units of soldiers are injected with nanomachines that grant them enhanced abilities and combat effectiveness. These nanomachines carry out a wide range of functions, forming an integrated battlefield control network called "Sons of the Patriots". As the player progresses through the game, they learn a little bit more about the military technologies of the near future and discover that they rely heavily on nanotechnology. Although frequently mentioned, the story does not explicitly describe how the nanomachines theoretically work. Let's take a look at some of the current research going on in the field and see which applications of nanotechnology in Metal Gear are fantasy, and which are not so far-fetched.
