Minimien
Minimien is a term used in speculative discourse and science fiction to describe tiny autonomous agents or organisms that operate on micro- or nano-scale. They are typically envisioned as scalable swarms capable of simple tasks, such as sensing, material transport, or local repair, coordinated through local interactions rather than centralized control. The name combines the prefix mini- with the suffix -ien, signaling small size and collective nature.
Origins: The concept arises in thought experiments about swarm robotics, synthetic biology, and nanotechnology to explore
Characteristics: Size range is roughly tens to hundreds of nanometers; energy is usually drawn from chemical
Applications and risks: Potential uses include targeted drug delivery, environmental sensing, infrastructure maintenance, and remediation. Risks
In culture: Minimien appear as a thought experiment or plot device used to explore questions of agency,