Will Ware, whom you may remember from NanoCAD, has done the most accurate simulation and animation of a molecular bearing design to date. He explains: Using NanoEngineer-1 (see http://www.nanoengineer-1.com) and other open-source software, I have created an animated simulation of the molecular bearing design on page 298 of Nanosystems by Eric Drexler. I worked with… Continue reading How a molecular nanotechnology bearing will actually move
Funded by the European Commission, the Nanologue project has released its report titled The future of nanotechnology: We need to talk. It presents three scenarios: Scenario 1: Disaster recovery A lack of regulation resulted in a major accident. Public concern about nanotechnology is high and technology development is slow and cautious. Scenario 2: Now we’re… Continue reading Nanotechnology scenarios from Europe's Nanologue
Arab News reports that Saudi Arabia is building separate nanotechnology R&D facilities for women to use: As part of the government’s drive to empower women, a scientific research center will be established in Riyadh with modern facilities for nanotechnology, biotechnology and information technology… “The center will focus on advanced technologies and activities that are suitable… Continue reading Saudi Arabia to fund separate women's nanotechnology
A new book by German physicist Jürgen Altmann of Dortmund University looks at Military Nanotechnology: Potential Applications and Preventive Arms Control (Routledge, 2006). Both near-term and long-term applications are examined. From the abstract: NT applications will likely pervade all areas of the military…By using NT to miniaturise sensors, actuators and propulsion, autonomous systems (robots) could… Continue reading Facing up to military nanotechnology
Earth & Sky interviewed yours truly on the topic of nanotechnology surveillance and nanoprivacy. It looks as though there are both a transcript and a couple of podcasts (1, 2). Excerpts: Nanotechnology will produce new sensors that can analyze chemical signals in our environment. And of course, we as individuals send off chemical signals that… Continue reading Nanotechnology surveillance & privacy: an interview
In the November 2006 issue of Nano Today, researcher-turned-science-journalist Jason Palmer urges nanotechnology researchers to open up to the public about the long-term promise of their nanotech work: In this sense, it is as important to consider and discuss what can be done as it is to rule out what cannot. Because they are careful… Continue reading Nanotechnology researchers urged to speculate more
Who knew the King was a nanotech fan? Arab News reports that the King of Saudi Arabia is putting the equivalent of about US$9.6 million into nanotechnology at Saudi universities: King Donates SR36 Million for Nanotechnology RIYADH, 25 November 2006 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah donated SR36 million to the three… Continue reading King of Saudia Arabia funds nanotechnology personally
Foresight members and others would like to find ways to use nanotechnology to help those who need help the most. It’s a challenge, as described more generally by Nancy Birdsall, Dani Rodrik, and Arvind Subramanian, writing in Foreign Affairs. They suggest a solution, which ought to work for nanotech as well as medical technologies: Wealthy… Continue reading Helping poor countries with nanotechnology
A story by Jon Van describes the growing backlog of nanotechnology patent applications: As the time it takes to process patent applications now averages almost four years, double the time it took in 2004, nanotech entrepreneurs are beginning to worry that their ability to raise money to develop products may be stifled. It’s not just… Continue reading Nanotechnology patent delays bad for (almost) everyone
Over at NewScientist.com, they’ve collected the 50-year forecasts of 70 “brilliant” scientists. Topics covered include nanotechnology and the control of physical matter, machine intelligence, and life extension. Here are a few excerpts: Peter Atkins, a Fellow and professor of chemistry at Oxford, on nanobio and synthetic life: Computers will continue to illuminate chemistry. It is… Continue reading Brilliant Minds forecast nanotechnology
