The 73-year-old Nobel laureate competed at the Pujiang Science Masters Forum and will compete again in five years." "Make a bet"
While giving a speech, he turned around in circles and wrestled with students who asked questions... On May 10, the sixth session of the "Pujiang Science Master Forum" was held in Xianghui Hall of Fudan University. Bernard Lucas, winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Ferlinga, talks about his scientific "journey". At the age of 73, he still retains a "childlike innocence" and closely follows his scientific dream.
[Molecular machine, only one thousandth of a hair]
What is the smallest machine in the world? Just how small is it? The answer is molecular machines, one-thousandth the size of a human hair.
There are many such molecular machines in our bodies. They not only produce proteins, but also "swim" in the intestines.
Molecular machines are one of Ferlinga's main research areas. He designed and synthesized the world's first artificial molecular motor, which can rotate a glass rod 10,000 times larger than itself. He achieved precise control of the rotation parameters of molecular motors and developed a series of intelligent molecular materials based on molecular motors, bringing the "steam engine era" into the molecular dimension. The fully artificial nanomolecule car he built can achieve precise guided movement on the gold surface, enabling the concept of macro machines to be realized in the micro world and becoming a milestone in the history of the development of the chemical discipline.
"I am often asked, why do we need molecular motors? Why do we need nanotechnology?" Ferlinga said humorously. When the Wright brothers first tried to fly, they were often asked, why do they need to fly?
He held up a piece of his hair and asked the audience, "Can you see it? The cross-sectional diameter of a hair is about 80,000 nanometers, and it can write 250,000 letters, so my hair can fill the entire universe with information."
In the future, molecular machines are expected to be used in cutting-edge fields such as new sensors, new materials and energy storage.
[For young people, asking questions is the most important thing]
"The journey of science is an adventure, and the joy of discovery is asking questions. Especially for young people, asking questions is the most important." Ferlinga said.
He grew up on a farm in the Netherlands and has always asked questions about the beauty and magic of nature. After entering the University of Groningen, he made his first molecule. "My university teacher said: No one has done this before you, it belongs to you. I was very proud at the time, even though this molecule was useless. I would like to thank My teachers, teachers have a role in shaping the future for young people.”
From then on, Ferlinga's enthusiasm for molecular manufacturing was unstoppable, and he was determined to create his own molecular world.
His team has produced the world's smallest rotating molecular motor, which is only one billionth of a meter. In the past, it could only rotate once an hour. Now, the latest speed is that it can rotate 10 million times a second.
"The molecular car made by my students is only 2 nanometers and has four-wheel drive." Ferlinga said with a smile. A 2-nanometer car is 1 billion times smaller than a normal car. It is contained in a small amount of white powder. With billions of nanocars, our output is higher than China's total output of new energy vehicles.
Currently, molecular motors are mainly driven by light. Can they be driven by electricity instead? Regarding the questions raised by the students at the scene, Ferlinga admitted that this was a very difficult problem and welcomed the student to come to his laboratory to work on the problem together.
Ferlinga introduced the "artificial muscles" he recently collaborated with his Chinese colleagues, like arm muscles, which can not only contract and stretch, but also move or carry things through molecular motors.
Will artificial muscles function better than real muscles? The students who asked questions on the spot were invited to the stage by Ferlinga for an arm-wrestling contest. "When it comes to energy efficiency, at first we only used 1/10 of light energy. Two weeks ago we published an article in Nature Chemistry, and now the energy efficiency reaches 80%. In the future, artificial muscles may beat you. Let's make a bet, Let’s compare it in five years.”
"When nature gave birth to species, humans began to create infinite species with the help of nature." At the end of the speech, Ferlinga quoted the words of his idol Leonardo da Vinci and encouraged the young students present, "Follow you dreams, because the future is yours.”
Wu Xinbao, Vice Chairman of the Shanghai CPPCC, awarded Feringa a commemorative certificate.
