Nanotechnology news and reviews

The top ten developments?

2005-04-08T01:20:00.000-07:00

Fixing the Road.
Every day I am stunned by the state of roads around this part of the world. Given the coastal situation the low road is completely full of potholes and bad repairs. So here is the thing, given that road surfaces fail so easily why aren't you nanoscientists coming up with a new roadsurface impervious to sea salt and wear and tear???

If manufacturing is entering the "Golden Age" of nanotechnology, then carbon nanotubes are the "Golden Child." These tubes of graphite many times thinner than a human hair have become a emerging technology because of their potential ability to add strength and other important properties to materials. Adding carbon nanotubes to plastics and other polymers has potential to make automobile and airplane bodies stronger and lighter, and textiles more tear-resistant.

A new study by the Canadian Program on Genomics and Global Health (CPGGH) at the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics (JCB), a leading international medical ethics think-tank, has listed the top ten Nanotech applications it sees as helping out the poorer nations of the world.
The top 10 nanotechnology applications are:

* Energy storage, production and conversion
* Agricultural productivity enhancement
* Water treatment and remediation
* Disease diagnosis and screening
* Drug delivery systems
* Food processing and storage
* Air pollution and remediation
* Construction
* Health monitoring
* Vector and pest detection and control

The story has been credited to medicalnews.com on various sites but I can only find it here.

The future is Nano

2005-04-06T09:20:00.000-07:00

Just thought you might like to know some of the research going on in Nano at the moment that might have a direct effect on your life.
We may soon be able to paint the TV onto a wall a window or even roll it up and carry it around with us. Imagine how this might be applied to computing. I roll out my screen on the table in the cafe and spill coffee all over it, use the screen to wipe up the mess and settle down to work. When I am finished I can roll it up again and stick it down my pants if I like. Although the article doesn't give us much nformation about how this might happen it does tell us a lot about John Protasiewicz whose brain child it is.

This probably ties in well with Mphase's plans Vice president Phil Thompson thinks, ..."Personal TV will separate the winning operators from the also-rans," Thompson said. "Customization will be the strategy that lets telephone companies change the playing field from bandwidth and price only." Thompson recommended that telcos take advantage of their inherently two-way networks to compete with cable and satellite companies."

Computers will be operating at light speed but not yet in a nano second. PSI recently announced a new material that will help in the development of Optical interconnects. "Optical interconnects will quite literally provide computers with the ability to operate at light-speed."

Now let me mix the computer and the camera. New technology will allow camera technicians to finely adjust and focus any lens without the need for assistants or bulky monitors. If they can get this technology into the film business it will do away with a lot of jobs and also save a few focus pullers, who might have had a bit much the night before. "Kopin's compact, high-resolution CyberDisplay enables installers to configure our cameras and imaging products right at the installation site," said Jim Voss, Pelco senior product manager. "The Pelco CST150 is designed to provide the ultimate in installation ease. An installer simply plugs the tool directly into any Pelco camera featuring a service connector. The integrated microdisplay allows for fine-focus precision and setup flexibility at the installation site - with no more need for a second person back in the control room or for a bulky monitor."

However if neither computers nor TV are your thing, then you can always write a book. Now copywriting a book will be made much simplier by the development of a new ink and GPS. Yes Anyone with the technology will be able to track a book no matter where it goes, not only that, but if you take the book out of the teritorry, then the ink dissappears until you bring it back again. This is just too cool I love the idea.

There are of course plenty of developments happening in anti-ageing creams, imagine nano bots all over your face straightening out your wrinkles, and sunscreen, again imagine millions of little bots holding up sun shades to protect you while you tan. Perhaps it's better if some people don't know what's in the cream that they put on their bodies.
Back soon.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

2005-03-23T14:18:00.000-08:00

PSI-TEC Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of PSI-TEC Holdings, Inc., a nanotechnology firm, announced recently the completion of the penultimate step in the fabrication process of a revolutionary new nanomaterial. PSI-TEC laboratory's recent breakthrough consists of the fabrication of an electro-optic material constructed atom-by-atom at the molecular level. These patented materials are expected by PSI-TEC scientists to have broad application in civilian and military telecommunication and advanced computational systems

Another major potential application for the nanomaterials are 'optical interconnect technology,' an area of intense interest by many major players in the high-tech arena.

They will quite literally provide computers with the ability to operate at light-speed.

Optical interconnects are the core component in the construction of "optical computers," i.e. computers which integrate the conduction of light (as opposed to electricity) at various stages for extremely high-speed computation. The development of breakthrough electro-optic nanomaterials such as those being developed by PSI-TEC has long been a major obstacle in the creation of optical interconnects.

Optical interconnects, not long ago considered futuristic, are currently the object of aggressive investigation by Intel, IBM, Agilent Technologies and the U.S. Government.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050317/phth015_3.html

WATER
And how might Nanotechnology help in the worlds water shortage in the future. Well it is believed that nano-materials will be able to filter even the most contaminated water supply.

PAINLESS DELIVERY
A new system of deliever with microscopic precision for cancer drugs which also minimises pain has been developed by scientists in Singapore.
Drug delivery may be controlled by superficially heating or cooling the environment of the nanoparticles.

FUTURE COMPUTING
HP is now looking at nanotechnology to solve its future computing needs.
After 40-years of relying on silicon and Moore's Law to define its computers and printers, the company has now embarked on a sub-micron path it says will carry it through the next 40 or so years.
According to Stan Williams, HP Senior Fellow and director, the company believe they have a practical and comprehensive strategy for moving into the world fo molecular-scale electronics.

NANONICKLE
University of Wisconsin-Madison materials chemist Anne Bentley who has been researching nanowires (suspended nickel wires - each 200 times thinner than a human hair) - believes they could one day serve as magneto-optical switches. The switches could aid in fields such as photonics, where light, rather than electricity, relays information. Researchers believe they will one day become critical components in ever-shrinking electronic circuits.

SIDE EFFECTS
Although there is much talk about the wonders of nanoparticles, there is little about what side effects if any can be expereinced by the human undergoing any treatment based on nanotechnology. Scientists at the University of Michigan are addressing those concerns by investigating how certain kinds of nanoparticles damage cell membranes enough to cause cell death in some cases and how the damage can be prevented.

It is not all Hot Air

2005-03-14T15:29:00.000-08:00

Well over the flu, wonder if any nano scientists are working on a cure for it.
What they have been doing is putty tiny crystals inside containers to increase the amount of gas they hold. Because the crystals have such a large surface area with nano size pores, the gas sticks better really. Actually its absorbed. And its all down to those guys who used to give us tape cassettes. Actually they started off making dyes but hey BASF are right up there. Who would have thought it was worthwhile to try to put more gas into an already empty space by filling the thing up with something other than space or gas? ERM maybe the scuba divers will appreciate being able to stay down longer and I know quite a few around here who would love to get their hands on the new tanks once they come out.

On the medical front NEC announce they have developed a high speed protien analysis technology which is vital to the prompt diagnosis of diseases like cancer. The technology uses nanobiochips.
Here's what they do "

1) By carrying out separation of the isoelectric point and molecular weight (two inherent characteristics of protein) on a nanobiochip and mass spectrometer respectively, short-time analysis of approximately one hour is achieved. This improves the analysis speed by 20 times that of the conventional method (two-dimensional gel electrophoresis).
2) As a compact chip is used in place of large amounts of gel, the size of the sample amount required for analysis is cut to one twentieth that of the conventional method.
3) Comparison with the conventional method is easily enabled as a two-dimensional map can be acquired from the two axes, the isoelectric point and molecular weight. "

Now you know by know I can only explain so much mumbo jumbo science talk but if you don't understand this don't worry. Just be thankful.

Coupled with that discovery some Brits have been given a huge wad of cash to develop the ‘Snomipede’. Basically the ability to manufacture and see things as small as 13nm. This is good because just now it can't be done. Machines of this size could do anything from manufacturing very cheap circuits and chips to repairing human tissue damage
Graham Legget says " “This research grant will allow my team in Sheffield, together with teams at Glasgow, Nottingham and Manchester universities, to pioneer faster, smaller and more efficient methods of manipulating and building molecular structures.

“The development of Snomipede technology represents the coming together of nanotechnology, molecular and cell biology, microsystems engineering and synthetic and surface chemistry."

Now just to let you know I am letting the business, money, investment side of things go for a while as there are already lots of people doing it out there. I will update you from time to time but this blog is supposed to let you know what is happening, not what might happening or who is getting a job when you are sitting here reading. So onwards and upwards. Don't forget to email or post a comment if you want anything explained, covered, or disscussed.
Nanotime

Global Dialogue on Nanotechnology

2005-03-11T12:49:00.000-08:00

Global Dialogue on Nanotechnology and the Poor: Opportunities and Risks –
on-line consultation.

The second session of this consultation is now open.

The Paper developed by the Meridian Institute to raise awareness about the implications of nanotechnology for poor people, and participants' responses to the accompanying questions, are now available on the website.

You can also post your feedback on this consultation in the evaluation section of the website. http://nanotech.dialoguebydesign.net

Nanotechnology in Use

2005-03-08T14:18:00.000-08:00

Here is a fairly exhaustive list of products that either have already been part of the revolution or very soon will be.
This list is provided by the Meridian Institute that I spoke about earlier. http://www.merid.org

In the automotive industry,
Ligthweight construction / Paining / Catalysts/ Tires(fillers) / Sensors / Coatings for windshields and auto bodies.

Chemical Industry,
Fillers for paints/ Composite materials / Impregnation of papers / Adhesives/ Magnetic Fluids

Engineering,
Protective coatings for tools and machines / lubricant free bearings, (I guess it follows)

Electronics
Displays/ Data memory/ Laser diodes/ Fiber optics / Optical Switches / Filters / Conductive antistatic coatings/ (no more shocks from the TV perhaps?)

Construction,
Materials / Insulation / Flame retardants/ Surface coatings for wood floors, stone etc; (look to the paint business as in Chemical above) Mortar

Medicine,
Drug Delivery systems/ Contrast medium / Rapid testing systems/ Prostheses and implants / Antimicrobial agents/ Diagnostic systems (inbody)

Textiles,
Smart textiles (that tells us a lot doesn't it?) Surface coatings again

Energy,
Fuel cells / Solar Power/ Batteries / Capacitors

Cosmetics,
Sunscreens/ Lipsticks / Skin creams / Toopaste

Food and Drink,
sensors for life storage/ additives/ Clarifiers (for drinks)

House hold.
Cleaning agents/ Odour removers/ Ceramic coatings for Irons

Sports/Outdoors,
Ski wax/ Rackets and clubs/ tennis balls/ antifogging coatings for goggles and glasses / Antifouling coatings for boats

The one thing that surprises me and that we already know is there is no mention of water treatment. Given that ceramic is already used as a filter and that it can be nanoised (to coin a word)I am a little surprised that Meridian et al haven't alluded to it in their list.

Developing Countries Developing Business

2005-02-22T04:56:00.000-08:00

A conference called by the International Centre for Science and High Technology of the UN Industrial Development Organisation (ICS-UNIDO), has concluded that developing countries will need to build their capacity for transforming research into commercial ventures.
While it appears the research is going well there seems to be a need for a forum whereby entrepreneurs in the South and compaines from the North could meet. Unless these contacts are developed it would seem the developing countries will be inventing in a vacum.
The challenge for many developing countries lies in their lack of infrastructure or a tradition of partnerships between research and industry. As Nanotechnology offers a wide range of applications, some countries could focus, for example, on the problem of contaminated water, like Bangladesh.
Argentina has developed a selective approach in the hope of becoming a leading player on a few applications.
In South Africa, government, industry and academia are all trying to determine which applications to focus on. Generally they are striving to work in an area like water purification where people will see the benefit.
It would seem that the coming revolution in science and business is a perfect way for the developing nations to put themselves on a par with the rest of the world. However with the Americans able to invest almost four billion dollars, you can begin to see where the problems might arise.

Nano profits?

2005-02-17T14:52:00.000-08:00

Here's one that caught my eye. Perhaps for those of you not ploughing your hard earned cash in Nanotechnology yet this story might convince you. It was titled "Gidron, Petruschka founding nanotechnology start-up" Now these two guys are the guys who sold Chromatis Networks to Lucent Technologies for nearly five billion dollars. Then Lucent shut it down a year later. Now that was either worth getting rid of competition, (expensive) a big booboo(very expensive) or something else (still very expensive) They two gentlemen in question have reportedly started a Nanotechnology 'startup'. Why wouldn't they with all the cash they made.

"The Confederation of Indian Industry had recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Research Coucil of Canada, for cooperation between small and medium enterprises in the fields of life sciences, renewable energy and joint development of industrial nanotechnology.

It aims to help small enterprises in both countries to develop a link with research institutions for creation of new technologies and their commercial production." Excuse my ignorance but it looks like the native american peoples may yet have the last laugh.

Zyvex and Arkema today that they will jointly develop commercial nanomaterials applications. I got the story from the pr news wire but I am sure you can read about it on their respective sites.

Ok talk to all soon.

Could someone miss the boat?

2005-02-16T13:49:00.000-08:00

According to research undertaken by LUX the bigger pharma companies seem to be slacking on investing resources into nanotechnology. It bases its conclusions on responses given by heads of nano tech at 33 global corporations whos annual revenue is over Four Billion Euro.........

" No life sciences interviewee rates nanotech as a high corporate
priority, as opposed to 78% of interviewees in electronics and
materials.
Only one out of six life sciences respondents claims to have an
explicit strategy for nanotechnology, compared with two-thirds of
those in other electronics and materials.
Big pharma companies on average commit 16 people and less than half of
one percent of R&D spending to nanotechnology research, whereas
like-sized electronics and materials firms commit more than 100 people
and more than 8% of R&D. "

The report concludes that with a raft of discoverys, bigger companies will have to deal with a whole raft of new partners and contracts. I find it quite amazing to think what this could mean. Could the big companies possibly change soon as this new type of technology develops. Is it possible it might also bring a global business revolution and new ways of business could come about??? No, not likely but possible.

Proteins and Transport

2005-02-14T08:05:00.000-08:00

Lumera Corporation (NASDAQ:LMRA) and The Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) will be collaborating in the development of a high-throughput, label-free detection platform designed to revolutionize proteomics research. Proteomics as far as I can tell, is basically anything to do with Proteins. High density micro arrays are read in real time without the use of molecular labels. In short it means the researches get through more work quicker.

Ener1 Nanotech are really making a difference by producing high discharge rate lithium-ion battery electrodes for hybrid electric vehicles. The electrodes give higher output and are charged faster. The company's new electrode production system also allows for the use of low cost raw materials and eliminates the need for undesirable additives such as binders and solvents that can slow a battery's rate of power output. This could in fact revolutionise not just the automobile industry, (i wish) but basically anything from fuel cells, to superconductors and even electric wires.

I won't hold my breath but I feel a change comming. Maybe all the oil wars will stop and carbon ones will start.

Would you please explain to the secretary

2005-02-13T18:40:00.000-08:00

I have got to say it amuses me.
I have read more than one press release from Government officials that shows for sure the government Guys don't know what they are talking about. See the previous posting in relation to the new research centre in Ireland for an idea. However more to the point, you could take a look at the press release that came from Governor George E. Pataki ‘s office, which consistently referred to mm instead of nm . Now you may think this is a small detail but I can assure you 200mm is a hell of lot larger than 200nm. Lads, next time you give a press release to be typed up, edited or corrected, would you just take a moment and explain to whoever is making aforesaid adjustment, just what the heck nanotechnology is. Thanks.
Oh and by the way, before you start having a go at my punctuation, grammar, and spelling, its 4am in the morning and I can't sleep.

You know they can't see them

2005-02-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

Did you know that normal optical microscopes actually can't see anything as small as a nanometer. It just isn't possible. Apparently something in the realm of 200nm's is the limit.
It sort of begs the question that if it can't be seen, not only how do you know it's there, but how the heck do you build things this size.
Anyway not to worry, just in case you loose your nano whatever it is you have, a new optical imaging device is under development at NSIT.
"In a preliminary test of the embryonic technique, NIST scientists used violet light with a wavelength of 436 nanometers to image features as small as 40 nanometers, about five times smaller than possible with a conventional optical microscope."
Let explain what this means, find the smallest crumb you can and put on about 10 pairs of gloves and then try to pick up the crumb. Now honestly I did try to break this story down further for you, but, a guy can only take so much of light particles scattered over a page to try and find a full stop, to make any sense to anyone. No I am not a scientist. Those of you who are go have a read here.

Now battery operated toys at christmas will be a good thing

2005-02-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

New batteries with a longer shelf life are on the horizon. Now all your Christams toys will last longer assuming the cheap plastic doesn't crack and break before the nano battery does. The new battery is based on using liquid drops of electrolyte atop "nanograss" that stay dormant until stimulated to flow. So when it's on its definitely on and when its off it's definitely off. However the company putting forward this new idea, MPHASE are not thinking toys but rather defense and medicine. To be honest it's probably just defense. mPhase and Lucent announced an agreement in March 2004, under which mPhase plans to commercialize the nanobattery under license from Lucent. mPhase projects its nanobattery to be commercially available in the next year and a half, and plans to produce the technology packaged in various configurations. A primary development goal is to create a battery which has a shelf life lasting decades, and yet can be activated instantaneously. You can read it here.........

Science of the small in Ireland

2005-02-11T03:40:00.000-08:00

Well finally. I was beginning to wonder. The boys back home on the old sod have finally got it together and are building Irelands first purpose built research institute to advance the frontiers of the world of Nano. The Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures & Nanodevices (CRANN which means tree if I remember my gaelic correctly) is based in Trinity College Dublin, is funded under Irelands CSET program. It is expected that strong links will be forged to other European researches as the EU continues to look for ways to stimulate, jobs, economy, and of course science.
Already a leader in Pharmaceuticals, and software, Irealand has been in need of some serious boost lately as certainly the software work is drying up. Perhaps this may help to boost the Celtic Tiger again but I fear when I look at the funding, and the fact that the facility is not yet built, that it is way too little too late. I hope not though. I would give you the link to the story, but the sound bite blurp of the Minister is so cheesy I thought I would spare you all.

Nanotechnology and future concerns

2005-02-08T15:51:00.000-08:00

The Meridian Institute are holding an online survey about the possible effects of Nanotechnology on the lives of the worlds poor. Go to http://www.nanoandthepoor.org to get more details of the discussion paper. The paper outlines various areas that Nanotechnology is used or being developed. The institutes concern at first glance, appears to be that the development of this new way of life, will perhaps leave the have nots with even less than they have right now. So in order to try and improve the lot of the masses, and to educate and find new ways of perhaps using the many different technologies involved in Nano, in improving world health and living conditions, they have come up with a disscussion paper. It is well worth going along to the above site or to http://nanotech.dialoguebydesign.net/fmain.asp to gain more insight.
The paper is accompanied by a series of 15 which cover,

a) Opportunities and Risks
b) Risks - Environmental and Human Health
c) Challenges for Linking Nanotechnology and Development
d) Lessons Learned from Past Successes and Failures
e) Stakeholders Working Together
f) Background Information
g) Other Events, Initiatives, Organizations, or Individuals

The paper itself gives a good if word heavy overview of what nanotechnology really is. I will be using it over the next few days to fill in many of this site's visitors. It has managed to answer quite a few of my own questions.
Chat to you in a nano.

Window washing?

2005-02-01T13:22:00.000-08:00

So whats happening out there. Well the Nano business alliance are organising their annual get together to educate and raise funds for investment, you can read about it here.It's in DC so be there if you care.
In May the Nanotechnology trade association will be having its forth get together, this one is more about science than money. It will be at the NY Marriot Financial centre hotel go here to have a read. Although I would have thought that anyone who knew better would hesitate going to a nanoevent, I mean how long would it last and how big would be? Surely it would be over before we got there?

Nanotechnology regardless of the weapons being researched at the moment seem to be able to clean up the environment. Nano sized particles of iron are being used to clear up poisons in soil or groundwater. carbon tetrachloride often found in chemical spills and used in cleaning fluids and degreasing agents is broken down by the iron nanoparticles and one would assume then made harmless. It apparently also causes cancer in animals so more whey hey for the nanoresearch.

Emergency Filtration Products Inc. recently announced that it has received confidential and official notification from the United States Department of Defense approving the use of its filter technology for the U.S. military. This notification included specific reference to the company's protective masks as well as an interest to develop filtration systems for use in tanks, vehicles and shelter (buildings). I am wondering how much the sand in the middle east may have had to do with this

Nanogen (hey you read about them already) developer of advanced diagnostic products, recently announced the appointment of Robert Saltmarsh as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Saltmarsh joined Nanogen as Vice President of Corporate Development last September. In addition to participating in business development initiatives, he assumed oversight of all financial operations and investor relations for the company. So let me put it to you this way, if you don't want to invest, send me the cash and I'd be happy to do it.However I am betting this had something to do with the patent issued the day before his appointment or rather he had some thing to do with it . The '053 patent relates to methods of making a covalently bonded permeation layer on a microchip. The technology described in the patent relates to Nanogen's advanced chip designs, which are used for analysis of biological molecules such as nucleic acids for diagnostic applications.

And finally the Lotus flower. No I haven't gone all Tantric or Yogic on you. Well if you have a small machine you can never really see how do you oil the moving parts? Well believe it or not you use the same technology to make a window clean itself, or even the same technology a lotus leaf uses to dry itself. ?? don't believe me? Well its all about Bumps and friction. So just go here and have a read and let me know when you think the collection of perambulating men with wet cloths and buckets will finally be put out of job. Thinking small to get big. Hmm somehow I don't think that should be my mantra.

NANO BOMBS

2005-01-28T10:33:00.000-08:00

From technology review comes the story of the Nano bomb.
As if there wasn't enough destructive power out there already. Well it seems that with funding from the U.S. government, Sandia National Laboratories, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are trying to figure out how to manipulate the flow of energy within and between molecules, a field known as nanoenergentics. This would enable the building more lethal weapons such as "cave-buster bombs" that have several times the detonation force of conventional bombs such as the "daisy cutter" or MOAB (mother of all bombs).
No doubt it also means that once the "Boys in the Middle East" have finished, they will be sent somewhere else to get rid of all the outdated technology lying around the place. However if it means no need for an atomic or neuclear device then maybe its better, right? er nope.

The power of the weapons is increased by adding materials known as superthermites that combine nanometals such as nanoaluminum with metal oxides such as iron oxide. However this technology can also been used not just for warfare but under water explosives or for fuel in rockets. One other advantage is it seems to do away with the tons of lead been left lying around place after any engagement. While reading the story I had to say I found it bizzare that really what is been discussed and researched is faster ways of killing basically.
However instead of replacing what us common joe and janes know as neuclear weaponary in fact the just make them smaller, stronger, and a lot more dangerous if they fall into the wrong hands. I gotta say it even though people with dollars will make a ton of money out of this, its the side of Nano that I dont really like.

How small again is a Nanometer????

2005-01-28T06:33:00.000-08:00

Here are some interesting measurements I have found while browsing around. It really helps to put in perspective just how small these things are we are talking about. I have also discovered there seem to be two distinct strands in this field and If I understand it correct it is as follows.
1 Big Machines make little machines........not to much to worry about there.
2 Little machines make little machines........this lead to the grey goo theory which has since been discounted but the thought was that nano machines would gain enough intelligence to either recreate or perhaps even reproduce. Daft thought really until you think it's been the basis for many a StarTrek series.
Right back to basics. What is a nanometer and why it is important. Well here's the explanation.....One billionth of a meter, 100 to 10,000 times smaller than a human cell
Each nanometer is only 3 to 5 atoms wide

A meter is about the distance from the tip of your nose to the end of your hand (1 meter = 3.28 feet).

One thousandth of that is a millimeter.

one thousandth of that, and you have a micron: a thousandth of a thousandth of a meter. Put another way: a micron is a millionth of a meter, which is the scale that is relevant to - for instance - building computers, computer memory, and logic devices.

Ah but hold it, because that is not nano scale, we are not there yet

A nanometer is one thousandth of a micron, and a thousandth of a millionth of a meter (a billionth of a meter).

Basically 75 to a hundred times smaller than a virus. 1 inch = 25,400,000 nanometers

So you can see why eventually, even though if it happened slowly and you lost your nano machine somewhere in the forest, that the possibility of this grey goo was considered.
Q1. What is nano technology?

"A1. Nano refers to the length scales involved, the nanometer or 10-9 meters length scale, where systems consist of only a few hundred or so atoms. Nanotechnology is a fundamentally new and different way of thinking about the creation of devices and systems. It is really a building of functionality from the most fundamental level of matter upward to the macroscopic system. More specifically, nanotechnology is the creation and utilization of materials, devices, and systems through the control of matter on the nanometer-length scale - the ability to engineer matter at the level of atoms, molecules, and supramolecular structures - and the generation of larger structures with fundamentally new molecular organizations exhibiting novel physical, chemical, and biological properties and phenomena."

Sorry but those of you who visit here will know that this is not my writing style, unfortunately I have misplaced the nano link to the person who wrote it. Suffice to say you guys in Nano tech may know what you doing but you sure as hell find the longest winded way in world to say it. As for some of the press releases? Well I did come across one from a certain governer's office where obviously a very well intending typist, who clearly never heard of nanotechnology changed nm to mm. Now I don't know about you but I wouldn't want something 300mm wide put into my blood stream. (while you here do feel free to click on the adds ) All questions and comments will be gladly answered.
Collie

NANOTECHNOLOGY BUSINESS

2005-01-20T08:25:00.000-08:00

Given the field of Nanotechnology is so vast there are bound to many different industries involved. I decided to take a quick look at some business moves and shakes to give you a feel of just how active things are in the area at the moment.
Again I am not going to apply any particualar order but as the site grows I will eventually do up a list of the top ten movers and shakers in the industry and the top ten personalities.From the PRNewswire.com comes the news that Ener1 announced that it has declared a dividend to its shareholders in the form of a distribution of five million shares of common stock of Splinex Technology Inc. This is to do with a previously announced merger agreement, under which a non-active subsidiary of Ener1 will be merged into Splinex Technology. Splinex Technology is a developer of multi- dimensional, visual computing software and technology. Ener1 develops and markets nanotechnology-based materials through its NanoEner, Inc. subsidiary and fuel cell components and testing services through its EnerFuel, Inc. subsidiary. Ener1's products have applications for markets that include power tools and industrial equipment, medical devices, hybrid vehicle propulsion and military communications. It is also interested in clean efficient sources of energy.

Coming from the Daily Nexus which is the UCSB student mag on line, we learn that for the eight year in a row UCSB have received external funding for research worth over $160 million. It’s a 12% jump on last years funding and according to sources, has to do with Campus research becoming more prestigious. There seem to be a number of groups willing to throw money at research into the field of Nano especially the Military and other Federal Agencies.

Industrial Nanotech Inc., an aspiring world leader in nanotechnology-based solutions, announces that the Company is in the process of completing an application to become listed on the Over-the-Counter ;Pink Sheets market under the stock ticker symbol INTK. Industrial Nanotechs premier products include patent-pending Nansulate(TM), an industrial-grade liquid-applied insulation and corrosion inhibitor with revolutionary performance characteristics. Here for more on this news.

Atlas Mining Company, has entered into a strategic relationship to develop high value applications for the unique hollow microtubules currently being produced at the Dragon Mine in Juab County, Utah. NanoDynamics, headquartered in Buffalo, NY, will begin purchasing Halloysite clay from Atlas immediately in order to create commercial applications for this novel material. The Dragon Mine halloysite has a unique tubular quality, not unlike a grain of rice, only considerably smaller and hollow. The halloysite microtubules can act as a time-release capsule, dissolving over time, and can be filled with such things as antifouling paint, antiscalants, herbicides, pest repellents, and other agents which could benefit from a controlled release. Remember all the dot com hype that we had late 80s early 90’s well it might be about to happen again but this time Nano.com. The Chicago Tribune recently published a report that the National Venture Capital Association is predicting 2005 will bring a strong return of investment in start-up companies. The group's president, Mark Heesen, noted in a press release that many venture capitalists will have new money to invest in the new year. With so many mergers and so much research going on, it is not implausible to think many of these investors will be looking to Nanotechnology.
Hansen Gray & Company, Inc.is a publicly-traded venture capital firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. The firm's management has substantial experience in all areas of investment banking, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, with an emphasis on emerging technologies including nanotechnology. They have just received the final part of a $2.5 million financing package. Lucky them I say. Actually they are involved with nanotechnology cooling systems for microchips. The funds are scheduled for use to further the development and commercialization of the Company's nanotechnology-based cooling system for PCs and notebook computers."
Accelrys, Inc. a leading provider of software for computation, simulation and the management and mining of scientific data used by biologists, chemists and materials scientists, including nanotechnology researchers for product design as well as drug discovery and development, have recently announced that it granted options to purchase its common stock to 3 individuals who commenced employment during November 2004. A total of 3,500 options were granted at an exercise price ranging from $6.40 to $6.76.

ObjectSoft Corp. announced that it has received investments totaling $250,000. In addition, it announced that it has invested the funds in a new Nanotechnology venture in partnership with Terra Solar Development Corp. A new website is under construction for OS and when its up I will link you to it.

More good news on the medical front Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd. has signed an exclusive license agreement with NeoPharm for the Japanese development rights for IL13-PE38QQR, generically known as cintredekin besudotox, which is NeoPharm's lead drug candidate for the treatment of malignant cells.. It is basically a tumour-targeting molecule (interleukin-13) and a cytotoxic agent that manage to make cancerous cells self-destruct.

An IBM-led consortium of high-tech companies from across the globe - marking another step in the Governor George E. Pataki ‘s goal of making New York a worldwide leader in university-based research, business development, and job creation, has invested $2.5 Billion, yes billon dollars in research and investment.

This investment includes Sony's investment into the new IBM leading edge 300nm wafer chip making plant, while IBM and its international partners will work jointly on some of the most advanced semiconductor development programs in the world. IBM and a group of the largest equipment suppliers in nanoelectronics that includes TEL and Applied Materials intend to invest an unprecedented $450 million to expand the research and development capabilities of the Albany Center of Excellence in Nanoelectronics.

Nano-Proprietary, Inc., or rather its subsidiary, Applied Nanotech, Inc. (ANI), has entered into a research and development agreement with KRI, Inc. to develop a hydrogen sensor for automotive fuel cell applications. KRI, Inc. is the research and development subsidiary of Osaka Gas Co. Ltd., the second largest gas utility company in Japan. All press release papers and other information is available from http://www.sec.gov/

Emergency Filtration Products, Inc. has entered into an exclusive, long term importation agreement with its partner, Itochu Techno Chemical Inc. whereby Itochu will distribute the company’s RespAide, Vapor Isolation Valve and Series One Breathing Circuit Filter products in Japan.

Itochu is one of the worlds largest trading companies with revenues of over $85 Billion dollars in 2003. EFP’s filter system has produced filtration efficiencies of ’greater than 99.99%’ at a particulate size of 0.027 microns and they are used in the resusitation of respiratory or cardiac cases. Itochu will work alongside its partner/affiliate Senko Medical Instrument Mfg. Co. Ltd.

Nano tech countries

2005-01-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

There seems to be absolutely no doubt that national governments, multinationals and generally anyone with a wad of cash is chasing the gold at the end of the Nanotechnology rainbow. Francois D'Aubert the French Governments minister for research has recently stated that funding will increase 150% to €70million. With this investment the French Government has made Nanotechnology a national priority. Most of the funding is being ploughed into the Government funded CEA. This is the industry and Nuclear group based in Grenoble. The Economy and unemployment figures may have something to do with sudden increase. Given that in some regions in the South of France up to 15% of the working population are faced with unemployment, and that due to restrictive taxes many multinationals are moving across French borders to places like Belgium and Switzerland, that perhaps the French see this as a long term escape plan.
But they face huge competition from of all places Germany. Germany currently houses more than half of the nanotechnology companies of Europe, and is only second to the United States in terms of patent applications in the fields of Nanotechnology.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons that the Tegal Corporation, a leading designer and manufacturer of plasma etch and deposition systems used in the production of integrated circuits and nanotechnology devices, recently announced that it had moved its European headquarters to Thiendorf, near Dresden, from Munich, Germany. All European sales, service and support will be directed out of this new location. In addition, Tegal intends to expand its infrastructure there to support some assembly and test operations.

"Silicon Saxony" as it is now being called is one of the leading locations for R&D in high-end production of microelectronics in Europe. Tegal’s new neighbours will be companies as Infineon, ZMD, AMD and DuPont Photronics. Three Universities of Technology and five Universities of Applied Sciences, along with the highest concentration of public R&D institutes in Germany contribute to a large, highly skilled and affordable work force available to anyone looking to make progress in the field.

So it seems that it just might be un petit peu trop tard for the French government and that Germany will once again become an economic power house of Europe.
Europe itself however, has plenty of competition around the world and the Chinese are certainly no slouches when it comes to jumping onto the nanotech bandwagon. Lets face it they were already on it back in the mid 1980’s when they started funding research into Nano sciences. In the late 90’s they started a national key basic research project ‘Nanomaterial and Nanostructure', to continually support the basic research on nanomaterials such as nanotubes.

China has planned to spend USD250-300 million within the current five-year plan (2001-2005). More aggressive initiatives are about to launch. The National Center for NanoScience and Technology of China (NCNST) is currently being built near the Peking University , Tsinghua University , and the Chinese Academia of Sciences (CAS) and is expected to finish in 2 years. The government has allocated USD33 million for building this National Research Center . But they are actually still way behind other developed countries. The National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China (NCNST, http://www.nanoctr.cn/ ) is a newly established non-profit legal research entity and a state-run technological platform and research center for nanoscience and technology equipped with advanced facilities in nano-fabrication and characterization. After many years of bilateral conferences on Nanotechnology with countries such as Japan and Korea. The NCN now want to host an international conference on Nanotechnology.

The China Nano international conference will be held as a series conferences in China with the support of Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Ministry of Education of China , National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Engineering, China Association for Science and Technology , China National Accreditation Board for Laboratories .

Well hope you find the news somewhat useful and interesting and please don’t hesitate to click on my sponsors while you’re here. I’ll be back in nano while.

Some recent Breakthroughs

2005-01-13T10:23:00.000-08:00

I should point out here, that what I am giving you is a condensed and selected view of recent breakthroughs and applications in the field of Nanotechnology.

Once again and forgive me for being blunt, but I am trying to dumb it down for the common Joe and Jane, and for myself as well. I am sure if any “experts” are reading out there you will correct any misunderstandings I might post.
So number 1 on the list for no particular reason other than it’s the first one I choose to write about is

BIOLOGICAL SENSORS FROM CARBON NANOTUBES

Well what is it and how does it work. These carbon nanotubes shine like a kids toy in the dark when they are exposed to infrared, another words they are fluorescent. Infra red also happens to make human tissue see through.
The tubes have been placed in a type of sheath made of enzymes that reacts with a particular chemical that enhances the fluorescence of the tubes.

“When glucose encounters the enzyme, hydrogen peroxide is produced, which quickly reacts with the ferricyanide to modulate the electronic structure and optical characteristics of the nanotube,” Strano said. “The more glucose that is present, the brighter the nanotube will fluoresce”

This particular device can be implanted into human tissue. However one thing that hasn’t been clearly explained is why the hell anyone would want to do this in first place. Okay it can be done but what for? Answers on a postcard please to here.

JIGSAW PUZZLES ::?????

While I started to read this one I had to laugh but then I realised that this is a pretty damn good development in the field of Nanotechnology that is centred in the field of medical applications. Apparently scientists at UCSB have managed to build tiny buildings and other beautiful structures using the folding principals of natural RNA.
What it means potentially is that nano circuits, medical implants, and improved medical testing may take place, using these principals and obviously the structures too. The group of Nano Architects see the possibility of being able to speed up the healing process of bones or other tissue using implants that are built on Nano scale.

NANOGEN
Now this is a company I have been reading a lot about. Recently that have been issued with a patent for Platinum silicide permeation layer device with microlocations," by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. It provides for a protective porous membrane layer, or permeation layer, to be deposited over microchip electrodes which are used for analysis of biological molecules for diagnostic applications.

A CURE FOR MALARIA? OR CANCER

Subra Suresh, graduate student John P. Mills and research scientist Ming Dao of MIT's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Professor Joachim Spatz and Alexandre Micoulet of the University of Heidelberg, Professor C. T. Lim of NUS, and Professor Thomas Seufferlein and Mark Beil of the University of Ulm have basically discovered what happens to cells in human blood when they are attacked by Malaria. “Such information at the molecular level is vital to gain insights into the pathogenesis of malaria, and potentially offers the opportunity to develop better drugs," Suresh added. Precise measurements of infected cells' response to mechanical forces could also help doctors understand how different strains of the parasite influence the functioning of organs such as the spleen. Once again the team like others have used tools that have been developed through nanotechnology. You may not be planning on catching this disease soon, but it does kill two to three million people a year. Perhaps this advance can also be applied to other diseases that affect the blood stream.

Advances have also been made on how cancer may be treated in the future. doctors at Harvard medical school have been injecting magnetic nanoparticles to track tumours The millions of miniature metal balls flood the body and concentrate in healthy lymph nodes. Using medical imaging equipment, the scientists then scan cancer patients for the particles to see if their nodes are normal or malignant, which show a different pattern. This tells the doctors how far the disease has spread and influences how it is treated.

BUT ITS NOT ONLY MEDICINE

There I was wondering when I was going to find out where else advancements in Nano were being made when I came across this great article from the smalltimes.com. I just love the name. Basically it outlines how nanotechnology is being used from anything to do with barcoding right up to top secret defence and surveillance techniques. One of the recent problems has been the power supply for nano machines but now the University of Alaska has announced it has finally succeeded in producing complicated microelectronic devices. Each of these devices could in the future be so cheaply made that they could be implanted into almost every product made. What does it mean? Well now when you feel like stealing a book or a car it could be tracked by virtue of these tiny devices. Not only that, prisoners could be tracked by local police forces. Soldiers in the field of battle could have a tiny device fitted under their skin monitoring their well being. Even children could be tracked by parents. Obviously there is a whole bunch of questions around the right to privacy that this throws up but mark my words, George Owell was only 20 years early when he wrote his famous book and I imagine in the future it may be possible for a government to track every single citizen. Gulp I gotta say I don’t like the sound of that one. What if I happen to be going out with the Presidents daughter???

Nanotechnology Leader Zyvex Introduces Carbon Nanotube-Based Epoxy Concentrates

What can I say about this? Basically go to the web site and try figure it out yourself if you are interested in Epoxy-concentrates. I seem to remember somewhere that expoxy’s had something to do with glue but this press release gave me too little information to figure out why anyone would want whatever it is they have developed.

DOING A SPOT OF SHOPPING ?

Then you know surely what a barcode is. It can hold lot of information. Intermec Technologies Corp., introduced in December a revolutionary new bar code laser scanning technology that is more compact and reliable and offers longer product life than current bar code laser scan engines. Initial scan rates are five times faster than current mechanical motor-based laser scanners, with the capability to increase in future product generations to thousands of scans per second. This speed will allow precise high-speed scanning in two dimensions and will provide omni-directional reading of 1D and stacked bar-codes, as well as 2D raster scanning for matrix codes. You can read all about it at nanotechwire.com but I have basically given you the gist of it here.

MIXING LIQUIDS

Finally an NJIT professor discovers new mixing method for microchip-sized labs

Basically what this means is that if liquids can be mixed more efficiently then better medicines can be made.

“Everybody looks at creating turbulence in three dimensions to mix liquids," said team leader Nadine Aubry, PhD, Jacobus distinguished professor and chair of the mechanical engineering department at NJIT. "We traded space for time, which is a much simpler way to handle this problem when space is at a premium."

To demonstrate the method, Aubry used a "T" channel intersection whose segments were 200 microns wide by 120 microns deep – about twice the circumference of a human hair. Baically it means that purer test drugs can be made with less by products and perhaps less side effects too one hopes.

Well after that exhausting but by no means exhaustive list of developments I hope 2005 is treating you all well. Obviously Medicine is not the only area of development in Nano technology but it certainly seems to be one at the moment that is making most leaps forward. Stay tuned for another update soon.

Whats happening in the Human world of Nano

2005-01-11T14:06:00.000-08:00

One of the many things I have noticed lately scanning through all the news sites is that there seems to be a lot of very important people being appointed to very important positions in a lot of companies.
In the University of California the Riverside research facility has recently appointed one Robb Drury as executive director of advanced operations. What does this mean? Well the guy is a money raiser and if you want to know more about his appointment which is effective from January 3^rd 2005 you can read about it here .
This appointment comes just after the same institution appointed one Marcia McQuern Appointed as their UCR Spokeswoman. This woman is a Former Editor and Publisher of The Press-Enterprise. They tell me she has been appointed to Oversee Campus Media Relations.

Meanwhile a particular law firm Sheppard Mullin has appointed a new guy, Jeff McKinney to deal with the notion of intellectual property in its San Francisco office. So what? I hear you say. Well this law firm employs over 400 lawyers and has offices in DC, New York and California so they are no small potatoes.
Ok so that’s only three appointments, a lawyer, a moneyman, and a PR agent. Now granted I may be adding two and two and getting anything but four, but it seems like the world of Nano is preparing itself slowly and surely, to take the world and perhaps the stock markets by storm. Given what I have already read, and I am sure in a few weeks time you will concur, there is definitely “gold in them thar hills”. Pity, wish I was in the situation to invest in one of two of these companies who persist in Dealing with the small stuff..

But it is not all. Yes there is more. Late in December of last year it was announced that the Acacia Research Corporation appointed one Dr Amit Kumar, CEO and President of CombiMatrix to the Board of the NanoBuisness Alliance. This is apparently the primary, or even premier, or how about number one association supporting the emerging nanotechnology field. Both organisations are pretty interesting so I have linked up to there websites just incase you want to learn more

I strongly suggest those of you who think many of the big companies in the world are getting too big and will break up in the future have a look at the NanoBuisnessAlliance. And anyone interested in how politics and business mix might like to know that one Newt Gingrich is heading it up along with venture capitalist Steve Jurveston of Draper Fisher Jurveston.

So let me make it clear if these are involved there must be billions floating around waiting to be made.

Well who are these companies and why would anyone want to invest? What’s it going to do for you and I? Well recently I read that traveni digital and mphase technologies have got together to enable mphase to sell a system that delivers Television down your phone line. So what? Well it basically means now that the individual customers “needs and requirements” will be catered to, faster, quicker, and more accurately than before. Whoopee for those of you who watch TV a lot and use phone lines for other things than talking. I haven’t quite figured out how Nano this technology is and I am sure I could if I spent time on either of the sites above. But its supposed to make the whole package cheaper too. I have promised myself to post up some of the latest developments in recent weeks and it may become more apparent to those of you who don't already know just how big this thing really is. But alas I am just the guide go have a look yourself if your interested.

I have promised myself to post up some of the latest developments in recent weeks and it may become more apparent to those of you who don't already know just how big this thing really is. Right oh. Back soon with more developments, mergers, breakthroughs and explanations. Wondering if you could make invisible paint with Nano technology?? I mean paint that makes things invisible?

How I first got interested in small stuff

2005-01-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

How I first got interested in small stuff.

After reading Michael Conolly’s “Chasing the Dime"” I took an interest in what all this Nanotechnology stuff was. I did my research and decided that if there was anyone else even remotely like me in this world, then a common sense blog that could explain the small stuff in a small way, and perhaps ask bigger questions was a must. I didn’t find one so I went ahead and made it. I hope it is of some help in breaking down the discourse of power that has inevitably arisen in this field. After all if you don’t know what a bucky ball is, and I still am not sure, then you are hardly likely to invest in one are you? Well are you?

One thing is for sure its definitely not anything with which you could propose a new game for the next Olympics in China. Not without a great big microscope anyway.

So what is Nanotechnology?

Bascially its an all encompassing word that deals with things smaller than the head of a pin. No even smaller than that, smaller than a period or a full stop. No, even smaller than that again. Let me see, if you imagine a human hair is 50,000 strands weaved together then a Nano meter is one of those strands. Nano technology is a term for any technology or area of research that involves itself with things that are this small. Lets get that into perspective. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that in future small flying machines that escape from Laboritories will be able to pass right through a human being without anyone ever knowing, including the owner of the machine. Lets face it, if you have something that small, how do you know when you loose it?

“Nanotechnology is the ability to control or manipulate matter on the atomic scale, making it possible to create structures, devices and systems that have novel properties and functions because of their small size, approximately 1/10,000th the diameter of a human hair. Carbon nanotubes are extremely efficient at the transfer of heat, and are especially useful because of their small size, light weight, and mechanical strength.” [PRESS RELEASE Date Released: Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Source: Ames Research Center]

Yes there seems to be some conflicting evidence on how small a nano really is. Not that would be called Nanos but lets just say they are.

Why? I hear you ask would anyone want to bother? Well for a start, and let me put a quote in here,

“The emerging fields of nanoscience and nanoengineering are leading to unprecedented understanding and control over the fundamental building blocks of all physical things. It is likely to change the way almost everything - from vaccines to computers to automobile tires to objects not yet imagined - is designed and made."

-Interagency Working Group on Nanotechnology Report

Let me put it differently. Do you remember the end of the 1980’s? I mean really remember them? What did you do when you wanted to meet someone? Were you even aware of email? What the hell was text, ringtone, cell phone and mobile? How did any of us ever arrange to meet and do anything? In 1985 did you know windows were not for looking through but working with? A hard drive was 16 hours behind the wheel and no stopover. And an airbag was your uncle Walter telling you how it used to be in his day. Well sit up because here we are again. The same way the microchip has revolutionised the world, so too will the nano chip, when it finally gets made. This technology has the ability to be applied in every field if the will to apply it can be found. Given the smallest integrated circuit today is about 350 strands of the 50,000 that would make a human hair, (if one hair was made of 50,000 strands that is), the nanocomputer will be less than 100 nm. (nanometers is the term and I’d better start using it).

Almost all the pioneers of infotech business are into serious work on nanoelectronics.

In semiconductors, Intel and Advanced Micro Devices are working on 65 nm chips and beyond. Intel promises commercially available products by 2005 and AMD by 2006.

The Nanoelectronics Research Initiative over the next 15 years will create devices with features less than 10 nanometers -- or billionths of a meter -- in size, roughly 10 times smaller than in current state-of-the-art chips.

This also means that in 30 years or so when your daughter brings home her new boyfriend he will tell you (you hope) that his father made his money in Nano. A whole new language, a way of thinking, and certainly a way of living will arise as soon as the scientists and industrialists really get their act together. Are you ready for it? I know I am not but I am damn sure I will be as soon as I get my head around it all.

I promise once I know you will be first after me. Well ok maybe not the first but within the week ok?