Category: Nanodot

A number of sources are reporting (here, here & here) that a group lead by Prof. Massood Tahib-Azar at Case Western Reserve University has developed faster and cheaper methods for growing (and welding?) carbon nanotubes potentially for the purpose of wiring shrinking Microelectronic circuits.

The only problem I see is that although it is widely reported, there appear to be few details on the method(s) other than the fact that they are "growing" the nanotubes from "seeds". In that respect it sounds similar to the methods used to grow silicon nanobridges which were previously discussed on Nanodot.

Nanobreakthrough or nanohype?

Azonano is pointing out here the award of a series of the 2005 NanoVic prizes for innovative nanoscale research in a variety of areas in Australia. These include such areas as surface treatments for wood products, textile applications and solar cell engineering.

They also discuss the NanoSolve^TM additive developed by Zyvex that uses carbon nanotubes for the engineering of stronger epoxy composites as well as a number of other developments in various aspects of nanotechnology R&D.

Betterhmans is reporting on progress of scientists at USC in combining several nanoscale technologies (transferrin based transport vehicles with small interfering RNA segments (siRNAs)) to effectively combat cancer, in this case Ewing's sarcoma, a type of cancer which impacts children. Interfering RNAs are small RNA strands which preferentially bind to complementary messenger RNA (mRNA). This activates cellular processes, presumably evolved to defend against double stranded RNA viruses, that destroy the double stranded RNA effectively reducing or eliminating the activity of the protein normally produced by the specific mRNA targeted by the siRNA.

The article with links to background information is here. There is significant potential for using this type of therapy to combat other types of cancer where the overexpression of a specific gene or protein is the primary cause of the disease.

While this is not diamondoid molecular nanotechnology it it can legitimately be considered molecular nanotechnology because it is nanoscale, it is based on precision activity at the nanoscale level and takes advantage of molecular processes and machinery normally found in cells.

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)."

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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.

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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.