NIST has announced (here) that they can grow oriented "nanowires" from ZnO on sapphire. Applied Physics Letters abstract is here. The nanowire sizes are from 3-10 nm. Not only is this scale "real" nanotechnology but several problems are resolved such as orientation determined by the positioning of gold nanodroplet catalysts and atomic precision as the wires are effectively single-crystals.
Svidinenko Yuriy writes the Nanotechnology News Network decide to ask some questions about a new nanotechnology program – NCD (Nanorobot Control Design) simulator. We also ask some questions about nanorobotics in general.
The interview is here.
JohnFaith writes "This article at Wired tells the story of how K.Eric Drexler as lost control of the direction of the ideas he created.
While the article does give details from people who say that molecular manufacturing can't be done, it does not explain enough about how assembly atom-by-atom is possible. The fact that living systems assemble things all the time (existence proof) does not make it into this article, and we don't hear about the things that are already being done with STMs and similar tools.
There is also mention of how the term "nanotechnology" is now used for a broad range of chemistry and materials research. It is true that the word has been overused, but "nanosystems" seems less vague to me. How do other people feel? Is there hope for getting attention and funds for "real" nanotechnology research in the near-term?"
Svidinenko Yuriy writes "Ascend Instruments, a manufacturer of value added solutions for nanoscale test and manufacturing, announces Extreme Magic, a revolutionary new technique for enhanced TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) sample extraction that eliminates many of the most difficult and time consuming steps from FIB (Focused Ion Beam)-based TEM sample preparation processes. More here: http://www.nanonewsnet.com/index.php?module=pagese tter&func=viewpub&tid=3&pid=18"
nanobot writes "knh productions based in Toronto has made a documentary on nanotechnology. Produced by Ken Hama, Naomi Matsuura and Selva Nair, this documentary claims to explore "the hypes, hopes and facts of this fascinating field as seen through the eyes of award-winning scientists, industry leaders and writers." Find out more"
Ed. Note. It would appear that they may have confined themselves to researchers in Canada. None of the cited participants are names that I recognize as major players in "real" molecular nanotechnology. They may have interviewed some very fine scientists but there are a lot of fine scientists who haven't bothered to read (and understand) Nanosystems leaving the open question as to whether such a documentary could be considered balanced.
