Donate
Donate

Gaming the Future: The Book!

Month: November 2001

gold nanowires

frog submitted a brief item from the Scientific American website on the self-assembling gold nanowires covered here on 1 November 2001. frog writes "An AC voltage between two electrodes causes gold nanoparticles in fluid suspension to form into a nanowire between the two electrodes. See http://www.sciam.com/news/110501/1.html from the Scientific American web page."

White paper previews Nanotech Opportunity Report

from the Discount-for-Senior-Associates dept.
CMP Cientifica (based in Spain) and nABUCUS (based in Hong Kong), two nanotechnology-oriented consulting and investment firms, along with the U.S. public relations firm of Niehaus Ryan Wong, have teamed up to prepare the Nanotechnology Opportunities Report (NOR), which is due to be released some time early next year. They have released a free preliminary white paper that aims to "give a comprehensive introduction to the wide variety of technologies that fall under the nanotech umbrella, and to present this in a manner that gives a sense of the areas of our world, and thus the markets, that will be impacted, and when."

As with most of these ìinvestment opportunityî reports, none of the material in the NOR preview white paper is particularly new or unique. However it does provide a succinct basic explanation of the developing excitement in the field for newcomers, and has a more international viewpoint than some of the reports issued by U.S.-based firms. The paper is available as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file (about 1.4 MB) at the website of any of the three firms:

The NOR white paper follows in the wake of a number of similar reports that were released in August and September 2001 (reported here on 3 August, 30 August, and 9 October 2001). The full Nanotechnology Opportunity Report will be available for purchase in January 2002 at a cost of US$1995.

UPDATE: Foresight Senior Associates, and attendees of this week's Ninth Foresight Conference, can get a discount of $200 on the pre-publication price of $1695 on advance orders for the NOR. This offer is good until 30 November 2001. These advance orders should be placed through Foresight, either online (secure web form), or through our office, to get the $200 discount. Contact information for the Foresight office.

Research reveals functional details of ion-channel 'atom-sorter'

from the natural-selection dept.
According to a press release, researchers at the Rockefeller University Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology and Biophysics have worked out the three-dimensional structure of the inner workings of an ion-channel protein complex. Ion channels act to pass only specific atoms through cell membranes, and thus act as biological ëatom sortersí. The channel examined in this study is specific for potassium ions.
The overall protein consists of four subunits, like four staves of a barrel. Inside the protein is a narrower tube called the selectivity filter where the potassium ion is recognized. The selectivity filter works as a sorter that chemically senses the ions as they go through the channel. When it senses another type of ion inside the channel, the filter prevents it from entering. The researchers discovered the structure of the filter is very finely tuned to pass potassium ions very quickly, but to exclude other kinds of atoms.

The work was reported in two papers in the 1 November 2001 issue of Nature. The Nature Science Update website has a brief summary of the research, with some helpful graphics.

Employment Review predicts bright future for nanotech workers

from the One-word:-nanoplastics dept.
For an upbeat but credulous look how the approaching advent of widespread nanotechnology is being viewed outside the scientific community, read the article in the December 2001 issue of Employment Review online ("Miniaturization fosters revolutionary future").

Article discusses potential dangers, misuse of nanotech

from the shadows-on-the-road-ahead dept.
An extensive article on the potential dangers and misuse of nanotechnology appears on the Small Times website ("Nanotech's dark side debated in the aftershock of Sept. 11", by John Carroll, 2 November 2001). The article quotes Foresight President Chris Peterson, as well as Foresight advisors Glenn Reynolds and Ralph Merkle. Foresightís voluntary guidelines for the safe development of molecular nanotechnology were mentioned as part of the articleís discussion of possible regulation or restriction of nanotech research and development.

Some of these issues were also presented in a New York Times article that appeared in September 2001.

Self-assembling microwires may connect biosystems

According to a press release, researchers at North Carolina State University and the University of Delaware have discovered a new method of growing microscopic wires that can conduct electricity in a liquid environment. The study shows that colloidal nanoparticles ñ dispersed particles ranging in size from 15 to 30 nanometers ñ can spontaneously self-assemble into wires when placed under the force of an alternating (AC) electric field, a process known as dielectrophoresis. The microwires are about a micrometer, or one-millionth of a meter, in diameter, and up to a few millimeters long. The formation of these microwires can be controlled and used in rudimentary electrical circuits. The research was published 2 November 2001 issue of Science. An interesting point noted in the press release is that making electrical circuits in wet environments may lead to a host of bioelectrical uses, such as providing electrical connections to living cells and tissues.

Battle is on for U.S. soldier nanotech center

A number of universities in the U.S. are competing to become the host for a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) for the U.S. Armyís Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN). A considerable amount of information about the intended goals of the ISN center can be found in the formal solicitation for the ISN center, released in October 2001, which is available as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file (about 155 KB). Funding for the ISN will be about $US 10 million per year, for at least five years.
According to the solicitation: "The individual soldier will. . . will require systems revolutionary in their capabilities. Recent advances in the field of nanoscience suggest that may be possible to provide the soldier with radically new capabilities in full-spectrum threat protection without incurring significant weight or volume penalties. Such soldier systems will only be realized by directing additional resources to the Army's Science and Technology Program in the emerging field of nanoscience. . . . The purpose of this research center of excellence is to develop unclassified nanometerscale science and technology solutions for the soldier. A single university will host this center, which will emphasize revolutionary materials research toward advanced soldier protection and survivability capabilities."
Responses to the solicitation are due by 15 November 2001, and competition for the center is keen. An item from the Cornell Daily Sun ("Army Research Facility May Replace Ward Lab", 25 October 2001) describes some of Cornell universityís efforts to bring the center there.

Previous coverage of the ISN program appeared here on 28 June and 13 September 2001

Synthetic anti-oxidants extend mouse lifespan

According to a press release, a team of medical researchers reports they have demonstrated that synthetic catalytic anti-oxidants can help treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsonís and Alzheimerís, and enhance overall lifespan in mice. The work was reported in the November 2001 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience. The report details experiments in which the treatment rescued a severe neurological phenotype in mice engineered to undergo a specific form of oxidative damage. Treatment with the synthetic catalytic scavengers of reactive oxygen species (SCSs) also resulted in a dramatic enhancement of lifespan of the mice.

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

      Search Foresight Institute