As my colleague Tim Beyers pointed out yesterday, Google
The concept of which I speak is a space elevator, and this past Wednesday The Wall Street Journal ran an article by Lee Gomes entitled "Is the Final Frontier Just One Ride Away On A Space Elevator?" It is a thoughtful, honest look at the feasibility of a space elevator, but there is one sentence in particular I'd like to bring to my fellow Fools' attention: "To the extent that a space elevator is feasible at all is due to advances in the science of nanotechnology, especially carbon nanotubes."
Last spring I noted that Arrowhead Research
Motley Fool Rule Breakers recommendation Harris & Harris
Finally, no project of such a massive undertaking is likely to be launched without attracting the attention and, ultimately, the assistance of some of the largest companies in the world, including the great alphabet companies General Electric
Each of these, not surprisingly, is also investing heavily in nanotechnology. GE has identified it as one of its key research initiatives and has already created the "ideal" carbon nanotube. Hewlett-Packard is now commercializing real nanotechnology-based products, and BASF has expressly stated that one reason it is investing $221 million into nanotechnology research and development is because it expects to reap about $60 billion in revenue from the science by 2011.
The concept of a space elevator will be dismissed by many people as just another crazy, futuristic idea; others will criticize it as just so much hype. In my opinion it is legitimate idea, and if nanotech helps it get off the ground and into space, it could give some nanotech investors one heckuva a ride.
Interested in nanotech-related Foolishness? Check out these articles:
Looking for ways to launch your portfolio? Consider a free 30-day trial run of the Motley Fool Rule Breakers newsletter.
Jack Uldrich gets nervous on an escalator, but he'd jump at the chance to ride an elevator into space. He owns stock in Harris & Harris and GE. The Fool has an earthly disclosure policy.