Category: Nanodot

from the they-know-how-to-make-the-little-things-count dept.
GinaMiller pointed out an EE Times article on the upcoming International Electron Devices Meeting, Dec. 11-13 in San Francisco. "A team from Japan's NTT research laboratories has gone beyond the realm of single-transistor devices to build the first elemental circuit using single-electron transistors. The team fabricated the circuit using a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) process and a vertical pattern-dependent oxidation technique. When operating at 25 K, the circuit performed basic arithmetic calculations."

from the what-the-well-dressed-virus-is-wearing-this-season dept.
Sentharus pointed out an article at ScienceDaily entitled "Discovery Of Armored Viruses May Inspire New Designs For Nanotechnology," on research reported in the September 22 Science (registration required): "Now scientists have discovered that one type of virus actually comes equipped with an armored coat made of interlocking rings of protein…. remarkably similar to chain mail suits worn by medieval knights…. The armored virus was detected by an international team of scientists from Stanford, the Scripps Research Institute, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Uppsala in Sweden."

from the we'll-settle-for-nanocomputers dept.
brian writes "Nice article in New Scientist that serves to establish both a physical upper limit to computing and a timeline. Kinda 'de rigueur' for Foresight but I find this kind of article useful for explaining singularity-like concepts to people. I.e. getting people to realize that one day (rsn) a 1 Ghz Pentium will seem as useless as my old 1 Mhz Apple ][+ seems today:

So here is where Moore's law must end, with a billion-degree laptop or an exploding submicroscopic black hole. "The truth is we have no notion of how to attain these ultimate limits," admits Lloyd. But don't despair–put your faith in human ingenuity. If the rate of progress doesn't slow, we'll reach these ultimate physical limits in just two hundred years' time.

Originally from Slashdot; see ensuing discussion if you like."

from the capabilities-or-culpability? dept.
Bruce Schneier, author of the standard reference Applied Cryptography, has a new book out called Secrets and Lies. In an interview in Salon he talks about the book's main thesis: that secure computing is impossible: "Given the inevitability of attacks, 'prevention' can no longer be the security buzzword. Just as even the finest hockey goalies must regularly suffer the humiliation of allowing a goal, companies must learn to live with penetrations. Prepare for the worst, Schneier urges." Has the man never heard of capability security?

from the not-what-I-was-thinking,-but-OK dept.

According to a press release for an upcoming conference on the medical applications of micro- and nanotechnologies, "the university, the city of Columbus, and the state of Ohio have invested heavily in the development of micro- and nanotechnology," says Mauro Ferrari, director of the Biomedical Engineering Center, and associate director of the Heart and Lung Institute at Ohio State.

In September, Ohio State University will host a comprehensive international conference devoted the medical uses of micro- and nanotechnology. About 70 research papers have been scheduled to be presented at "BioMEMS and Biomedical Nanotechnology World 2000." The conference will run September 23 through 26 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.

The release concludes: "When people hear 'microelectronics,' they think of Silicon Valley," Ferrari Said. "Ten years from now, when people hear 'nanotechnology,' we want them to think of Ohio."

from the so-where's-their-donation? dept.
This "news" predates nanodot, but it's worth noting this item from IDG that gives both NASA's views on nanotech (which we knew), but also the CIA's (which we didn't): The rapid pace of technological change is also forcing the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to adjust. In February 1999, the CIA formed IN-Q-Tel Inc., a nonprofit corporation set up to invest in technology companies. The CIA believes it is not currently able to keep up with developments in information technology infrastructures and is being challenged in its mission of presenting top-flight information to the federal government, Gilman Louie, president of IN-Q-Tel, said…Louie also advocated public education as an element in promoting support for nanotechnology. "The genie is already out of the bottle." he said.