Month: April 2005

From Ettela'at, the only daily newspaper in Persian (pdf link): [President Khatami] "said that the Islamic Republic, as an undeniable power, attaches importance to modern scientific activities including biotechnology, nanotechnology." From the Islamic Republic News Agency: The "Fifth Seminar on Nanotechnology was held in Khajeh Nasir University late on Sunday…According to [Secretary of the seminar, Hossein] Jalali, Iran is expected to place among top 15 countries of the world in nanotechnology in 2020. He further referred to the budgets of developed countries such as Japan and the US for nanotechnology and called it 'incomparable with Iranian's'."

The U.S. National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel, which is the same as the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Nanotechnology Subgroup, is making its first periodic report in its role as NNAP. Floyd Kvamme presented a set of slides at a PCAST meeting recently, viewable here. See especially slides 16, 21, and 22.

Many Nanodot readers may be able to make the case to their employers that they need to understand the future of manufacturing. Take a shot at it now, so you can attend "Molecular Nanotechnology and Manufacturing: The Enabling Tools and Applications" on May 4 in Minneapolis, sponsored by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Speakers on molecular manufacturing include David Forrest and Chris Phoenix. Jim Von Ehr will speak on "Assembly Pathway to Nanotechnology: Meso to Micro to Nano". Other talks will likely include relevant info, e.g. IBM's Thomas Theis: "Over the next few decades, it should become possible to design and control the structure of an object at all length scales, from the atomic to the macroscopic, and to do so cheaply and reliably in manufacturing." Foresight president Scott Mize will meet with Foresight Senior Associates members that evening; contact the office to sign up.

It's not available until May 6, but on Amazon you can preorder a copy of Nanofuture: What's Next for Nanotechnology by J. Storrs Hall, Ph.D. From the foreword by Eric Drexler: "Reaching a solid understanding of new technology–the understanding necessary to judge its effects–is an intellectual adventure. I could not wish you any better guide than Josh Hall. Before the term 'nanotechnology' had reached a tenth of its current popularity, he had already formed the first worldwide Internet discussion group and led the discussion for a decade. He has done research and development in nanotechnology since the early days, with multiple inventions and discoveries to his credit…You'll get the whole story here." The price is right too: only $18.48.

Julie Hillan writes "Visit frontiernumber4.com and register (its free, no spam) to meet others interested in AI, ECA, SIA, and robot topics. Brand new forums have been created, and we are also seeking content contributors (white papers, fiction, conference and event info and reporting)."

More…

M. Roessger writes "Schaffhausen/Switzerland, April 15th, 2005

NanoWorld Holding AG announced that it has acquired 100% of Bulgarian based Innovative Solutions Bulgaria Ltd. (ISB) with its AFM Probes division BudgetSensorsô on April 1, 2005.

More…

Sandia is reporting that porphyrin nanotubes coated with gold on the inside and platinum on the outside may be able to use sunlight to split water and produce hydrogen. The tubes are actual nanoscale devices having diameters from 50-70nm and tube walls 20nm thick. Scientists indicated that the tubes may be able to use the ultraviolet part of the solar spectrum as well as the visible which would likely make them more efficient than solar cells unable to do this.

This fits well with recent articles discussing energy production as one key application of nanotechnology.

Earlier this week, the Bush Administration submitted a $1.05 billion supplemental request for nanotechnology research in 2006. See the 52-page report in pdf format. From a list of strategic priorities on page 26: "designing and developing active nanostructures, systems of nanosystems, and molecular nanosystems", also on page 52. (Info from Daryl Hatano of the Semiconductor Industry Assoc.)

A belated story from The Register: "The [British] government has handed £1m in grants and awards to a nanotech company that has developed a new way of detecting a bioterror attack. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Nesta) both contributed to the funding package. The company concerned, Nanosight, is cagey about explaining its technology because its patents are all still under review. What it will say is that it has developed a way of replicating viral antibodies using non-biological means, specifically 'computer and microelectronics technology'." The submittor of this item commented: "The story centers around a bio-weapon detector, however, I feel the promise of non-biological production of viral/bacterial antibodies is much more interesting."

Check out the new journal Small from Wiley Interscience, publisher of the book Nanosystems. Sample article from the first issue: "Powering a Supramolecular Machine with a Photoactive Molecular Triad" and from issue 3: "DNA Nanodevices". Most articles are on nanostructures which are not atomically precise, such as from issue 5: "Halloysite Nanotubes as Biomimetic Nanoreactors". (OK, maybe that last title is a bit jargony…) A problem: many articles have no free abstract.