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Gaming the Future: The Book!

Month: March 2002

Cautious analysts say advanced nanotech is still "decades off"

An brief article on the Small Times website ("Nanotechnologyís potential needs decades of work before itís realized, expert panel says", by Candace Stuart, 19 March 2002) reports that a panel of "nanotechnology leaders", speaking at a conference in Washington, D.C. on "Small Wonders: Exploring the Vast Potential of Nanoscience" sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), said not to expect much from nanotechnology in the short term. The report says the experts opined that "Nanotechnology probably has decades to go before promise becomes product; but if and when it does, the impact could be staggering."

Similar sentiments were expressed in an article in the Dallas Morning News ("Nanotech may need a little time", by Alan Goldstein, 13 March 2002), focusing on venture capitalists and investors at the Nanoventures 2002 conference held in Dallas, Texas, 6-8 March 2002 (see Nanodot post from 8 March 2002).

India hopes to develop

from the World-Watch dept.
An brief article in The Times of India ("Need to develop nanotechnology", 5 March 2002) reports that Rajeev Ratan Shah, Secretary, Department of Information, speaking at a seminar in Kanpur on 3 March 2002, admitted that "India was lagging behind in the development of nanotechnology", and called upon nano-scientists "to come out with concrete recommendations for quick growth of nanotechnology in the country. He also stressed that the government would provide funds for research in this field." According to the report, "Shah said there was an urgent need for an integrated approach for the growth of nanotechnology in India, adding that scientists from various institutes should come on a joint forum to share their experiences and knowledge in this field. He lamented that India was lagging behind in nanotechnology and it was high time that Indian scientists took initiatives for advanced research in the field."

New York Times covers nanotech

An article in the New York Times ("Tiny Technologies Slip Unseen Into Daily Life", by Barnaby J. Feder, 11 March 2002) takes a decidedly short-term view of nanotechnology, focusing on the many companies attempting to commercialize nano-structured materials. The article makes only a few passing references to the potential for advanced nanoscale devices, but does note the increasing level of interest from venture capitalists and investors: "The things I said a few years ago would be prototypes in 2005 are here now," James C. Ellenbogen, who heads the nanotechnology division at the Mitre Corporation, which specializes in government-supported technical research. "There has been a sharp upsurge in the number of venture capitalists at science meetings."

[Note: Access to the NYT site is free, but requires registration.]

A quick look at a nanotech-oriented VC firm

An article in the San Jose Business Journal ("VC Draper still rolling the dice", by Sarah Lacy, 1 March 2002) doesnít deal much with nanotechnology per se, but does offer an interesting profile of venture capitalist Tim Draper and his firm of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, which is one of the VC firms leading the charge (cautiously) into the emerging nanotechnology sector.

Self-assembling nanotubes may form scaffold for nano-scale systems

Gina Miller writes "Purdue University researcher Hicham Fenniri uses Rosette nanotubes as a frame to direct a target that can change depending on the chemical used. Fenniri believes his self assembling system could be used as a diagnostic tool and for the treatment of disease. See the Purdue News article (March 11, 02) http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/020311.Fenniri.scaffold.html"

According to a press release (8 March 2002), Purdue University researcher Hicham Fenniri has developed a method to create self-assembling nanotubes that can be easily manipulated with specific dimensions or chemical properties. The nanotubes can be used as a frame on which various objects additonal molecules or metal ions can be added to give the structure a specific property or direct it toward a selected target, Fenniri says. Fenniri speculates that tailoring structures this way may allow development of high performance materials or new tools to diagnose and treat disease, or they could be used as a scaffold to custom-build molecular wires and other components for use in nanometer-sized electronic devices, including some that could be inserted into the body. A graphic image of one such structure showing a group of nanotubes linked to form a rosette-shaped ring is also available (Note: this is a rather large JPEG image).

Similar work by Fenniri using DNA as the nanoscale scaffold molecule was reported here on Nanodot on 17 April 2001.

Carbon Nanopores As Alternative Fuel Storage

Gina Miller writes "The University of Missouri-Columbia's recent discovery of a carbon material could become a new fuel alternative for the next generation. MU physicist Peter Pfeifer believes this new material could relieve us of our dependence on foreign fuel and sees a commercially viable carbon nanopore storage product on the market within five years. See University of Missouri website (03/14/02): http://www.missouri.edu/%7Enews/releases/carbonnan opores.html Or See Sci News (03/16/02): http://www.newswise.com/articles/2002/3/NANOPORE.U MC.html"

EPA will examine nanotech environmental impacts

from the another-green-world dept.
According to a report on the Small Times website ("U.S. Regulators want to know whether nanotech can pollute", by Doug Brown, 8 March 2002), "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is gathering information on the potential perils of nanotechnology even while it's enlisting the science in its fight against pollution."

While the EPS will continue to fund research into way to use nanotechnology to clean up the environment and to prevent future environmental damage (see Foresight Update #44), the EPA will also pay for research projects that examine possible negative environmental impacts of nanotechnology, said Barbara Karn, the EPA official in charge of the agency's nanotechnology research.

A second article ("Nano litterbugs? Expers see potential pollution problems", by Doug Brown, 15 March 2002), covers a recent meeting on "Nanotechnology: Environmental Friend or Foe", held on 15 March at the EPA offices in Washington, D.C. The article includes the views of Vicki Colvin, a professor and co-director of the Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology (http://cnst.rice.edu/cben/) at Rice University in Texas, and Mark Wiesner, also a Rice University professor and the centerís other co-director.

(The CBEN was also the host of a workshop on the possible environmental impacts of nanotechnology in December 2001. See Nanodot post from 17 December 2001.)

The article also describes an EPA request for proposals (RFP) on "Environmental Futures Research in Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology" from the EPA National Center for Environmental Research for research related to the possible environmental impacts of nanotechnology.

U.S. Army selects MIT for Institute for Solider Nanotechnologies

from the be-careful-when-choosing-grandparents dept.
According to an MIT press release (13 March 2002), the U.S. Army has selected the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to be the host institution for a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) for the U.S. Armyís Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN). A brief press release was also issued by the Army. Competition was keen among a number of universities across the United States to host the ISN, which will be a five-year, $50 million program in which MIT will receive $10 million annually for research "to create lightweight molecular materials to equip the foot soldier of the future with uniforms and gear that can heal them, shield them and protect them against chemical and biological warfare." The Army release adds the program will provide the U.S. military with "expertise in the development and application of nanotechnology for the soldier; including the creation of uniforms and materials that could help heal soldiers, protect against bullets, chemical agents or monitor a soldier's life support processes."

According to the MIT press release, the ISN will be staffed by up to 150 people, including 35 MIT professors from nine departments in the schools of engineering, science, and architecture and planning. The ISN will also include specialists from the Army, DuPont and Raytheon, and physicians from Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, which are members of the Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology

For more information about the ISN, see the Nanodot posts on 28 June and 1 November 2001.

Read more for additional information and press coverage of the announcement.

Nanotechnology Opportunity Report (NOR) released

CMP Cientifica, a European-based nanotechnology research and consulting company, and nAbacus, a nanotech consulting company based in Hong Kong, have finally issued their Nanotechnology Opportunity Report, a 500-page, two-volume report that offers an in-depth look at nanotechnology from a business, technology and global perspective.

An article on the Small Times website ("Nanotech reality check: New report tries to cut hype, keep numbers real", by E. Pfeiffer, 11 March 2002) provides a good overview of the report.

In conjunction with Foresight Institute, CMP Cientifica is offering special pricing on the NOR for members of the Foresight community. For more information, or to order, visit the Foresight NOR web page.

Streaming Coverage of NSF Nanotech Symposium

eru writes "A press release issued on March 13th on the NSF website announced that selected portions of the "Small Wonders: Exploring the Vast Potential of Nanoscience" symposium will be webcast live on Tuesday, March 19. Further details, including scheduling, can be found here."

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