The microscopic motor, described in the Sept. 9 edition of the scientific journal Nature , took four years to create. The prototype is considered a major breakthrough for scientists seeking to understand the workings of the biological motors, from the muscles to the lungs, that power the human body. Online coverage of the breakthrough is available at ABC News and at BBC News . A summary of the Nature article may be read online .
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The goal of continuous rotation remains distant, but is achievable, Kelly said. The ramifications for biochemical research promise to be significant. But nobody understands how these biological motors work. Our research may help biochemists do so and may lead to treatments for people whose motors don't work right. Take that and reduce its three dimensions by another factor of 10,000, and that gets you down to the size of a molecule.