December 2001

Gaming the Future: The Book!

UK scientists study molecular motors in biosystems

An interesting and well-written article in the London-based Independent newspaper ("The tiny engines that power life itself ", 17 November 2001) describes studies into the workings of biological molecular motors by researchers at York University and Oxford. In addition to some good explanations of how these biological motors operate, the article shows how studying biological systems may be useful in the design of artificial nanosystems. As one researchers puts it, "If we want to build machines on this scale out of silicon or DNA we need to know the fundamental principles of how they work, and the obvious place to look is nature, which does it so efficiently and elegantly."
The article was also reprinted on the Small Times website.

IPTS ponders security, identity in cyberspace

from the Virtual-identity-crisis dept.
The September 2001 issue (#57) of The IPTS Report which is published by the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS), part of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, focuses on various issues related to security in cyberspace. Perhaps the most interesting article in the issue is one that deals with "Cyber-Security and the Future of Identity", presenting some interesting ideas about how one determines physical, digital, and virtual identities and how these relate to privacy, authentication and security.

UCSD researchers image brain wiring as it forms

from the Making-connections dept.
According to a press release (30 November 2001), researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Divisions of Biology and Physical Sciences have succeeded in imaging the structural changes between neurons in the brain that many scientists believe take place when human brains store short-term and long-term memories. The images show brain cells forming temporary and permanent connections in response to various stimuli, and provide evidence for how nerve connections in the brain are changed temporarily and permanently by our experiences. Their research results were reported in the 30 November 2001 issue of Cell.

Jobs in nanotech?

Reid Maker writes "Hello, I am a senior in college graduating with a B.A. in computer science and history. I am also incredibly interested in the oncoming nano world, and have been reading any article I have gotten my hands on for the past few years. Are there commercial nano centers where people can find employment? Or even in the university setting? I would really like to be a part of the oncoming nano revolution, but am not exactly sure how. I have been eyeing a number of industries for next year, but I really haven't found anything about the nano job marketplace. If anyone has any information on this, it would greatly be appreciated. Thanks for your input!"

NSF, EC will cooperate on some nanotech programs

from the International-nanotech dept.
In another sign of the expanding internationalization of nanotechnology-related research and development, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the EC announced in a press release (3 December 2001) an expanded a program of workshops and funding of mutual research goals in materials science, to include nanotechnology. Under the cooperative program, research goals will be determined jointly by U.S. and European researchers. NSF grants will support the U.S. side of research teams in areas such as surface structure and thin films, carbon nanotubes and the role of defects in materials. The EC will fund the Europeans' participation. The new program expands on a previous agreement that began in 1998.

More news from Nanotech Planet conference

from the The-buzz dept.
A spate of news items about nanotechnology has emerged in the wake of the Nanotech Planet conference held last week in Boston. Some items of interest:

An article on the Wired ("Nanotech, but Not in a Nanosecond") website that reiterates the cautionary statements regarding investment-oriented nanohype made by HPís Stanley Williams and others.
Another Wired item ("Don't Fear Science You Can't See") features some level-headed comments by Foresight Senior Associate and Board member Glenn Reynolds (who spoke at the conference) and others on negative reactions to the other kind of nanohype ñ fears of runaway self-replicating nanobots and the like.
An article on the Small Times ("European nanotech depends too much on government handouts, expert says", by M. Kelley, 30 November 2001) website presents comments by Ramon Compano, a member of the European Commissionís Program for Future and Emerging Technologies, who claims European nanotech ventures receive far more support from public investment and research grants than the private sector.
Small Times also ran an article that reported the comments of venture capitalists and investors who were speakers and in the audience at the conference: "While bullish on nanotechís promise in general and confident that it will lure its share of investment dollars, the speakers also warned that the sector is a long way from practical success."
A similar item appeared on the The Deal.com website ("VCs see slow start to nanotech investing", by Charles Sisk, 30 November 2001): "Despite predictions that the market for nanotechnology . . . will take off in the next 15 years, most ideas are still too under-developed to warrant funding, venture capitalists and other investors said."

Are You Living In a Computer Simulation?

Nick Bostrom writes "I have a new paper, setting forth what I call the 'Simulation Argument'. It's located at http://www.simulation-argument.com

ABSTRACT. This paper argues that at least one of the following propositions is true: (1) the human species is very likely to go extinct before reaching a "posthuman" stage; (2) any posthuman civilization is extremely unlikely to run a significant number of simulations of their evolutionary history (or variations thereof); (3) we are almost certainly living in a computer simulation. It follows that the transhumanist dogma that there is a significant chance that we will one day become posthumans who run ancestor-simulations is false, unless we are currently living in a simulation. A number of other consequences of this result are also discussed."

Zyvex facilitates cooperation between UTD, Jilin U in China

from the International-nanotech dept.
Vik writes "Looks like Zyvex's trip to China has bourne fruit. The Dallas Business Journal is reporting here that Jilin University is to share research with the University of Texas at Dallas. It's good to see such cooperation, particularly in the current climate of distrust, and highlights that ultimately nanotechnology is for the benefit of all.
Vik :v)"

[Editor's note: more detailed information on this cooperative venture between UTD and Jilin University can be found in this press release on the UTD website.]

Investors comment on nanotech as industry

from the at-least-nano-has-a-business-model dept.
"Nanotech Offers Some There, There" by Ann Thayer (Chemical & Engineering News, 11/26/01, not easy to access) discusses the nanotech industry and current investor interest. Galway Partners' Chris Anzalone: "I believe there will be a nanotech boom over the next three to five years. The difference [from dot.coms], of course, is that there will be more there, there." Merrill Lynch's John Roy: "Where there's smoke, there's fire. Nanotechnology is closer than we think, and we need to be watching this. Although no one knows how big this will be, we do know that it never will match the hype." (Might Mr. Roy someday wish he'd left off that last comment?) A chart shows that venture capital is already about double US federal spending on "nanotechnology".

Gaming the Future: The Book!

Month: December 2001

UK scientists study molecular motors in biosystems

IPTS ponders security, identity in cyberspace

UCSD researchers image brain wiring as it forms

Jobs in nanotech?

NSF, EC will cooperate on some nanotech programs

More news from Nanotech Planet conference

Are You Living In a Computer Simulation?

Zyvex facilitates cooperation between UTD, Jilin U in China

Investors comment on nanotech as industry

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