纳米技术带来的变化，将超出你最疯狂的想象。应用纳米科技，我们可以移动一颗颗原子，把它们放到我们想放的地方。这样，在理论上，我们就可以制造出任何我们想要的东西。例如，通过移动煤炭里的原子我们可以制造钻石。多么令人惊奇！当然，目前纳米技术还没有发展成熟。

Nanotechnology is the science of moving individual atoms around and putting them precisely where we want. Since everything is composed of atoms, by doing this we can, in theory, construct anything we want. For example, by moving around the atoms in a piece of coal, we could create a diamond. 　

Currently, nanotechnology is still quite crude. Scientists can alter the properties of things like plastics or cloth to make them harder or softer or more durable, but they can’t build something new from a collection of atoms. Why? Well, because things are made up of billions of atoms and it takes too long to move them around. 　

So, the next big step in nanotechnology will be building machines that can do this automatically. Once we have these we should be able to make almost anything with no waste and no pollution, at very little cost.

Scientists think that the first “Universal Assembler” might be built in around 15 years. 　

[注释]：
nanotechnology: 纳米技术　
individual: of or relating to an individual, especially a single human being 个别的，单
独的，个人的　
atom: a part or particle considered to be an irreducible constituent of a specified
system 原子
precisely: in a precise manner 准确地；明确地　
be composed of: 由……组成，由……构成　
construct: to form by assembling or combining parts; build 建造　
currently: belonging to the present time目前　
crude: unripe or immature 未成熟的　
alter: to change or become different 改变　
property: a characteristic trait or peculiarity, especially one serving to define or describe its
possessor 特性，属性　
durable: capable of withstanding wear and tear or decay 耐久的　
billion: 十亿(的)