Author: Foresight Editor

From a Northwestern press release: "Researchers at Northwestern University have demonstrated writing at the sub-100 nanometer molecular scale in fountain-pen fashion. They developed a novel atomic force microscope (AFM) probe chip with an integrated microfluidic system for capillary feeding of molecular ink…The Nanofountain Probe (NFP) developed by Horacio D. Espinosa, professor of mechanical engineering, and his colleagues employs a volcano-like dispensing tip and capillary fed solutions to enable sub-100 nanometer molecular writing." (Source: NanoApex)
Nanofountain Probe: clever technology, clever name. I'm betting we'll see a lot more nanotech innovation from mechanical engineers. –CP

Researchers at the Wiezmann Institute of Science in Israel have created a new molecular switch that, for the first time, uses negative differential resistance (NDR) at room temperature, essentially creating a switch with no moving parts. The NDR phenomenon has been used before at the molecular level, but only at extremely low temperatures; this experiment demonstrated the effect, at the molecular level, can be "stable, reversible and reproducible at room temperature." (Credit: KurzweilAI.net)

Registration is required, but is probably worth the trouble over at NanoMarkets, where they have a series of free white papers on nanotech, including "Thoughts on the Economics of Nanosensors" and "Plastics, Nanotubes and the Mobile Displays of the Future", plus multiple reports on nano-enabled drug delivery and drug discovery. Excerpt on sensors: "NanoMarkets believes that nanosensors are unlikely to dominate the sensor market anytime soon. In fact, our forecast of the nanosensors market indicates that nanosensors will likely not achieve a 10 percent penetration of the total sensors market until early 2010. However, in light of the total size of the sensor market, even minimal penetration means that the nanosensor market will be worth a few billion dollars within just a few years, which makes them a market opportunity well worth pursuing." Of course, if you love the free white papers you can buy the big reports for big bucks ($2K+).

Plan now to apply for a unique two-year master's program in nanotech in Europe: "1. The nanosciences are multidisciplinary: the challenge is to instil in the students the power to communicate and think across the boundaries of the traditional scientific disciplines. Notably, the aim is not to educate 'multispecialists'. Students receive a basic training in all disciplines, and choose a specialization within one of these disciplines. Special courses are designed to offer a multidisciplinary view on this research field…3. The EMM-nano is strongly research-connected: students spend at least one fourth of the programme on their own research project in a research environment of internationally renowned quality; course modules are strongly related to ongoing research and are taught by research professionals." Europeans can still apply this year; others must wait until next year. Courses are in English.

A new report from Lux Research and Foley & Lardner, "The Nanotech Intellectual Property Landscape," echos what Foresight members have been hearing from Ted Sabety at both of our 2004 conferences: there's a problem in nanotech patents. "Our comprehensive patent review shows that the patent landscape for these materials is complex and fragmented. Because so many patents have been filed relating to nanomaterials, and so many of them seem to overlap, companies that want to use these building blocks in products will be forced to license patents from many different sources in order to do so"…"nanotech winners and losers could be decided by courts and not consumers." A bad situation.–CP

Adam Keiper points us at an editorial in The New Atlantis titled "Assessing the Nanotech Revolution." The concluding paragraph: "A preliminary report from the [National Research Council] committee is expected in June 2005, with a final report to follow early next year. It is our hope that the committee will offer a clear analysis of the technical potential of molecular manufacturing, and a clear recommendation on whether federal nanotechnology funds should be allocated toward theoretical and practical research into molecular manufacturing. A clear statement from the committee will help resolve the discrepancy between what Congress expects and what federal funds in fact support."

The Nanotech Company has published a white paper titled "Nano-Savvy Journalism – 7 things every reporter should know before writing about nanotechnology and 7 questions to ask every nano company," currently available on request using a button on their homepage. It's good overall but needs at least two key tweaks, one on quantum effects and one on nanoscale robotics. Read more for details.

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.