Merging of optical and electrical technologies

Though the size scales are not precisely "nanoscale". The merging of transistors with quantum dots suggests that we are going there.

See: New Transistor Laser Could Lead To Faster Signal Processing.

Ed note. This is yet another area which was not covered in Nanosystems (not that it could cover everything) — but we have no concept with regard to what the limits may be in nanomagnetics, nanoopticalelectronics, nanosupercondunction, etc. These limits are still largely unexplored. Hell, we don't even know the limits of things from drug synthesis technology (and therefore minimum production costs) to DNA sequencing technology (so one can know your precise genome on a generic basis to knowing your precise genome on a cellular basis). Without those your physician is effectively operating blindfolded.

So we are operating blind at a number of developmental levels and if we want humanity to make the fastest possible progress we should fix that.

Oxygen bonded to platinum

Spacedaily is reporting (here) that scientists have managed to bond oxygen to platinum breaking through the so-called "oxo-wall". One must ask, given the catalytic properties of platinum and the reactive propensity of oxygen, what could an oxo-platinum tipped Fine Motion Controller (or SPM) do?

Consideration of higher molecular weight elements is largely lacking in Nanosystems. Yet most elements from iron to uranium have some very interesting properties at the nanoscale level. Should these not be explored in more detail?

International Conference

Svidinenko Yuriy writes "The Ministry of Industry and Science of the Moscow region, Administration of the city of Fryazino, Radio-electronic Industry Department of the Federal Industry Agency, "Concern NANOINDUSTRY" Joint Stock Company and "VOLNA" research-and-production enterprise supported by the Committee for Industrial Development and High Technologies of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, are organizing the International Conference "NANOTECHNOLOGIES for INDUSTRY 2004". The Conference will take place in Fryazino (not far from Moscow) from December 8-9, 2004. More here: http://www.nanonewsnet.com/index.php?module=pagese tter&func=viewpub&tid=3&pid=25"

Finland invests 80 million euros in nanotechnology

Tekes writes "The Technology Agency of Finland, Tekes launches FinNano technology programme on 1st January 2005. The total duration of the programme is five years, 2005 ñ 2009. The costs of the programme are Ä 45 million, including Ä 25 million in research funding, and Ä 20 million in corporate financing.

looking for explanation of experimental results

Koen Vercruysse writes "Dear Nanodot members,

I have some (small) experimental observations that, because I have little background in inorganic or physical chemistry, I am at a loss to explain.

New strongest acid

Chemists at U.C. Riverside have apparently discovered a carborane (a complex molecule of boron, carbon, chlorine and hydrogen) that they are claiming is the world's strongest acid. Details are here. Perhaps this provides an additional tool for the chemistry path to molecular nanotechnology.

Nanomechanical Memory, Rod Logic next?

Emeka writes "Intimations of Rod Logic "…The rise of nanotechnology has led many researchers to revisit mechanical computing…It turns out that… nanomechanical memory cells, due to their size and speed, could outperform their counterparts in magnetoelectric systems…" Are we seeing the precursors to the rod logic computers predicted by Eric Drexler? "…The device closely resembles silicon nanoscale oscillators that researchers have been making for years and could be made by the millions using standard chipmaking techniques. Nanoscale oscillators vibrate at high speeds, and are being developed largely as compact, high-frequency sensors and communications devices. The memory cell requires closer control than oscillators in order to be switched between the two flexed states…"TRNMag"

Nanometer Knitting for Futuristic Clothing

Roland Piquepaille writes "Australian and U.S. researchers have found a new way to exploit the old technology of spinning wool. This CSIRO news release, "Futuristic 'smart' yarns on the horizon," tells us that spinning of carbon nanotubes could lead to 'smart' yarns which could be knitted together to make artificial muscles for robot soldiers or even bandages that send a signal after you're hurt. However, this news release is short on facts, and in "Knitting in nanometres," ABC Science Online wrote something more substantial. You'll discover that the scientists "created the yarn by growing a mat of fibres on a substrate, called a nanotube forest." And with this spinning process, this 'forest' can grow as long as you want, like several kilometers long. If it is proven, this is truly amazing, and practical military or medical applications could be ready within five years. This overview contains selected excerpts and some scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs of the process."

A Nanoelectronic Sensor Which Can Save Lives

Roland Piquepaille writes "Researchers at Nanomix, a 20-person Californian company, have developed a nanoelectronic sensor which combines carbon nanotubes, carbon dioxide-detecting polymers and silicon to become a human breathing monitor. The device can determine carbon dioxide concentrations in exhaled air, according to "Monitoring Life, One Breath At A Time," a news release from the National Science Foundation. It could be used as early as 2005 to monitor patientsí breathing during surgery. Even more importantly, it will be used in the field for emergency care by helping to verify proper breathing tube placement or to provide feedback about adequacy of ventilation. This overview gives you more details and references. It also include an illustration of the carbon nanotube network device."

Designing a nanotechnology major

PingS writes "I am going to be a sophomore in electrical engineering this upcoming year. I have been tracking nanotechnology for the past four months, and read through multiple literatures on the Foresight website including Engines of Creation and the Unbounding Future. I have also read the recent publication Recent Advances and Issues in Molecular Nanotechnology. I am currently working on Nanosystems, but it is 'very technical' for a sophomore, so I am progressing 'very slowly'. I want to let you guys know that I have done a lot of background research into nanotechnology and am familiar with most of the current issues and debates (Smalley, Whitesides).

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