Donate
Donate

Gaming the Future: The Book!

Month: April 2001

Genetic Mutant or high tech bio-art?

from the Bunny-bemusement dept.
Is a glowing bunny an aesthetic statement? rinkjustice calls our attention to this item, which raises some interesting questions about what happens when genetic manipulation moves beyond basic research and the treatment of genetic diseases into . . . other arenas:
"Chicago-based conceptual artist Eduardo Kac has created a stir when he was prevented from unveiling his latest high tech art named Alba, at an exhibition of digital art in Paris. Alba is a transgenic bunny that glows bright green in blue light. It was the result of splicing the green fluorescent protein from the Aequorea victoria jellyfish into the genes of a rabbit. Some called the denial of his exhibit censorship, while others — horrified at this genetic manipulation — accuse Kac of playing God.
Is Alba legitimate bio-art? Is it an indication of how house pets will be in the future? Kac is already in the process of combining said jellyfish protein with Mexican hairless dogs for a glow unobscured by fur."

RPI Starts Nanotechnology Research Center

willgorman submitted this item on the creation of the Center for Nanotechnology Research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York. According to the press release, research areas of the Center will include advanced materials and coatings, biosciences and biotechnology, nanoelectronics, microelectronics, and nanosystems. In addition, a new research effort on potential socioeconomic impacts will be initiated to understand the impact of nanotechnology on industry and society.

In a related item, RPI and Zyvex Corporation recently formed a two-year collaboration designed to develop new microsystems capabilities. Under that agreement, Zyvex and RPI will explore MEMS assembly and packaging technologies through the cooperation of Zyvex's and RPI's research and development facilities.

Nanotube circuits and more at APS conference

from the Totally-tubular dept.
brian wang writes "Speaking at an American Physical Society meeting in Seattle, Phaedon Avouris of IBM described the creation of a carbon nanotube integrated circuit, with a thousand nanotubes acting like transistors . . . Speaking at an APS meeting in Seattle, Avouris described how, in a mixed batch of nanotubes, one can short out the metallic nanotubes (with a surge of voltage) while leaving the semiconducting ones intact for use as circuit elements."

But, as DanKindsvater notes, AIP Physics News later ran this correction about this item: "Researchers at IBM have not yet made an integrated circuit of carbon nanotubes . . . Rather, Phaedon Avouris and Philip Collins of IBM have announced a scheme for the fabrication of large arrays of nanotubes. They also put together one p-type nanotube transistor and one n-type transistor to form a working logic NOT gate."

Read more for other highlights in nanotube research reported at the APS conference.

Micro (nano) Assembly Proposed by metal industry

from the Industry-outlook dept.
ErenNano writes:
"I found this article while surfing the web. Itís a collection of predictions about where technology is leading, and nano assemblers were mentioned under the term Micro Assembly. An excerpt:
ìThe period of 2030 through the 2050s in manufacturing will be typified by the developments of microfabrication, virtual marketing and testing, and biocomputing. Microfabrication will be the most sweeping transformation for manufacturing since the advent of the computer. It will allow the fabrication of materials and parts at the molecular level, building them with the features we desire (strength, weight, flexibility, and so forth) at incredible levels of material efficiency . . . [W]ith the advent of nanotechnology, microscopic assemblers will grasp reactive molecules and combine them only in preplanned and controlled ways. Through these controlled and repetitive combinations, complex structures may be built up a few atoms at a time . . . The resulting material, and therefore the structure produced, will be many times stronger and lighter than traditional ones. Indeed, they will be stronger and lighter than anything we can build today."

Homo Excelsior meme bank update

from the Browsing-the-future dept.
pmoss sends a reminder of the expanding resources on the Homo Excelsior website, which he describes as "a central database of science and technology that is peer-reviewed and . . . is generally concerned with the memes related to nanotechnology, megascale engineering, cryopreservation, uploading and other associated sciences and technologies."

Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin Podcast Spotify
0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop
    Continue Shopping

      Search Foresight Institute