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Gaming the Future: The Book!

Author: Foresight Editor

Open Source CAD code for MEMS

from the where-oh-where-is-good-software dept.
Senior Associate Michael Butler writes "At the just-past Foresight Gathering, mention was made of extant MEMS fab CAD software packages and how bad they are. Alternatives mentioned include, e.g., recycling mature finite element FORTRAN code and stitching it together with other things. It happens that Matra open sourced a bunch of CAD/CAM code last year. (Slashdot article). I suggest that interested people at Zyvex and elsewhere check out Open Cascade and see if what they're doing can be bent to your purposes. Have any nanodotters worked with this code?

Maryland task force proposes "tech courts"

from the your-objection-to-the-lightspeed-limit-is-overruled dept.
Found on Slashdot: A Maryland legislative task force has proposed the creation of "a special court for high-technology cases." The New York Times story does not mention Arthur Kantrowitz's 1967 proposal of what came to be called science courts (a concept advanced in Engines of Creation as "fact forums").

Self-assembling monolayers productized

from the name-to-live-up-to dept.
eeex brings to our attention the Nanomechanical Research and Development Center opened in Quebec by NanoWorld Projects Corporation. Staffed by 15 researchers, they plan to commercialize applications of their self-assembling monolayer technology. The company website points out that "We are not at the point of creating some of the fantastic nano-machines that some enthusiasts see as an eventual result of monolayer research. But there are other technological applications of monolayer technologies that seem within our grasp or just around the corner." CP: The enthusiasts cited may be confused; I haven't heard of a monolayer pathway to nanomachines. Also: how are these monolayers "nanomechanical", anyone have thoughts on this?

Early beneficial application of MNT: clean water

from the motherhood-apple-pie-and-pure-water dept.
Pat Delany writes "A problem ahead for nanotechnology? The possible backlash from two groups, one the growing number of people mistrustful of science and the changes it brings, and the other bureaucratic institutions that might balk at funding a technological revolution with the ability to unseat them from their position of power. A solution? Turn nano development toward an early and obviously beneficial goal: the desalinization and purification of water, allowing us to use our abundance of saltwater and polluted water for agriculture and consumption…We, the folks at nanospot.com, offer this idea for the nanotechnology community to consider, and would like to help jumpstart such an effort…" Read More for the full post.

MNT & space dissertation needs reviewers

from the let's-help-change-Mr-Tom-to-Dr-Tom dept.
Senior Associate Tom McKendree writes "I am wrapping up the last substantive chapter of my dissertation [on space applications of molecular nanotechnology]. After that, I still have the conclusions chapter to finish, and the introduction to write, but there is a lot of content in what is already done. My target is to actually defend and complete this year. So, in the spirit of parallel processing, I am looking once again for people interested in reviewing sections of the dissertation." Read More for the outline.

Robot with gun operable over internet

from the new-challenge-for-hackers dept.
Senior Associate TomMcKendree writes "In what sounds like a bad idea, a researcher in Thailand has hooked up a robot with a gun, that can be controlled over the internet, and that can be set up to shoot automatically."
An excerpt: "[The inventor] has password-protected the 'fire' command for when the robot is operated over the Internet. 'We think the decision to fire should always be a human decision,' he says. 'Otherwise it could kill people.' " CP: How reassuring, a password.

Nanotubes best heat conductors

from the who-needs-metals? dept.
Senior Associate Brian Wang writes "University of Penn scientists have found that carbon nanotubes are the best heat conductors. Sound can conduct thermal energy at 10,000m per sec down the tubes. They could be very useful as heat sinks in chips. The weak binding between tubes that allows the heat conductance must be overcome in order for strong materials to be created from thicker structures: http://www.eurekalert.org/rele ases/up-iac083000.html"

Nano@HOME project proposed

from the more-fun-than-SETI dept.
Senior Associate Robert Bradbury writes "In the large group meeting, at the very end of the Foresight Spring 2000 Senior Associates gathering , I made a brief statement about the need for a Nano@HOME project. Available now is some background rationale and relevant links in the Nano@Home Project Proposal. This relates to Bryan Brun's recent proposal for open sourcing nanotech, discussed here, as well as possible methods the Foresight Institute and/or IMM could use to generate more public support for nanotechnology and even potential revenue sources."

Protective cage for nanoscale structures

from the behave-or-be-caged dept.
bbrelin brings to our attention work at Purdue in which 10-40 nm structures are "caged" to protect them from unwanted reactions. Now used for metal clusters, such a process may be useful in protecting more complex nanodevices:
"Scientists are trying to use these to build new, stronger materials one molecule at a time for applications ranging from medicine to aerospace. But this bottoms-up approach has had a downside: Nanoparticles can be so fragile and unstable that if their surfaces touch, they will fuse together, losing their special shape and properties…The porous coating permits the particle inside to interact with substances outside, but keeps the nanoparticles from interacting with each other."

Zero-cost online journals urged for 3rd world

from the is-it-"property"-or-is-it-science?-let's-decide dept.
BillSpence writes " In light of MNT security issues and the need to include as much of the Human family in the discussion as possible, we intend to participate in this outstanding idea from Dan Agin, Editor/Publisher SCIENCE-WEEK. –Bill Spence, NanoTechnology Magazine
From Science Week:
A Call to Scientific Journals to Assist Developing Countries
The Email journal ScienceWeek is now offering free online subscriptions to residents of developing countries. For each new paid subscription, an equivalent free subscription is immediately provided to a developing country resident. Details and the definition of "developing country" can be found at http://www.scienceweek.com/freesub.htm ScienceWeek calls upon all science journals with online editions to join us in this effort to increase the dissemination of scientific information and improve science education in the developing world.

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