From Live Science, a summary of a recent paper in PNAS: “Scientists partially restored the vision in blinded hamsters by plugging gaps in their injured brains with a synthetic substance that allowed brain cells to reconnect with one another, a new study reports. “If it can be applied to humans, the microscopic material could one… Continue reading MIT: Nanotech repairs brain damage in hamsters
From Arab News, comments by Prince Turki ibn Saud, vice president of the research institutes at the King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST): ” ‘We have government approval for a 20-year strategic development plan,’ he said. ‘The Kingdom is keen to develop nanotechnology, which holds immense potential in the future. The KACST… Continue reading Nanorace gains another entrant: Saudi Arabia
The Wilson Center’s Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies has launched a product database currently listing over 200 consumer products identified by their manufacturers as using nanotechnnology. A 10-page initial analysis is available (1.1 MB pdf). David Forman commented in Small Times Direct, the email service from Small Times magazine: “On the safety front, note that the… Continue reading Nanotech consumer products inventory launched
Congratulations to editor Cordelia Sealy and her team over at Nano Today, which has just launched as an independent publication, no longer a supplement to Materials Today. The first stand-alone issue has meaty review articles, research news, some business news, and a surprising amount of policy commentary, including an opinion piece (PDF) by David Berube… Continue reading Nano Today goes independent
On Friday I was at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research’s Economic Summit (some videos available), where among other things I learned that the oil sands of Canada are, unfortunately, more accurately thought of as “tar sands”. But Chevron has announced a $60 million deal to develop these sands. The Motley Fool’s Jack Uldrich… Continue reading Nanotech may pull oil from tar sands
The U.S. National Cancer Institute brings us a summary of a journal article which argues that comparing nanotechnology to genetically-modified organisms misleads the public: “Writing in the Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, Ronald Sandler, Ph.D., and William Kay, Ph.D., argue that the GMO-nanotechnology analogy overstates the likelihood of a backlash against nanotechnology. The use… Continue reading Nanotech issues not like GMO controversy
Closing out our week here at Nanodot on a cheery note, some good news about carbon nanotubes, brought to us by Michael Freemantle of C&E News, regarding research done by a UK/France/Italy team: “Carbon Nanotubes Pass Safety Test Functionalized carbon nanotubes are rapidly cleared from blood, excreted in urine “A new study could allay some… Continue reading Carbon nanotubes pass a key safety test
Which country has the Nanotechnology President? Why, India, of course! See the text of President Kalam’s most recent speech on the subject. Excerpts (link added — hope I found the right report): “I am sure; there is an important message for all of us for nurturing young talent for all scientific research work particularly in… Continue reading Meet the nanotechnology president
Yesterday I wrote about a possible nanotech-based replacement for battery technology, and mentioned that I’m the daughter of a battery engineer. What I didn’t say then is that my dad died of a type of cancer which is found more often among those involved with battery manufacture. This gives me a more vehement view than… Continue reading Nanotech & the Precautionary Principle: a personal statement
As a battery engineer’s daughter, I appreciate how hard it is to make a better battery. Now Technology Review reports that some MIT researchers are taking a different approach: make a better capacitor. Excerpts: “The new technology, developed at MIT’s Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic Systems, should improve ultracapacitors by swapping in carbon nanotubes, thereby… Continue reading Nanotech ultracapacitors from MIT
