from the square-one-for-nanotube-chips? dept.
IBM grows nanotube patterns on silicon wafers, a September 30 EETimes article reported that IBM has grown catalyst-free nanotube networks on silicon carbide substrates, producing "grids of nanotubes (in rows and columns), bringing the promise of nanotube transistors arrayed across silicon chips one step closer to reality".
from the Potential-applications-of-MEMS-and-NEMS dept.
Antonio Correia writes "Since July 2002, NEXUS and PHANTOMS have jointly started a concerted action aimed at bridging micro and nanotechnologies. …. The intention is to enable a better understanding of the future potential of nanotechnology in the context of microsystems-driven applications." For more information
from the more-than-one-way-to-molecular-chips dept.
Despite Fraud at Bell Labs, Chip Research Barrels Ahead, an Oct. 1 New York Times article, gives a snapshot of the state of atomic and molecular-scale electronic circuit research in the wake of revelations that a few breakthroughs were falsified by one nanoelectronics researcher.
from the very-small-but-very-slow dept.
Gina Miller writes "A Sept. 3 press release from the University of Wisconsin at Madison Scientists develop atomic-scale memory reports that scientists have been able to read and write at room temperature to a memory that uses a single atom to store a bit. Silicon atoms are dispersed on a self-assembled surface of gold atoms so that each silicon atom fits into a pocket formed by 20 surrounding gold atoms. An STM tip is used to remove specific silicon atoms to write to the memory. Although the storage density is very high, writing with an STM tip is very slow."
from the Getting-it-right? dept.
UPI published an interview with Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a few days after his 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act passed Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approval and headed for the Senate floor (see Nanodot post Sept. 25, 2002). The interview is noteworthy for the perspective it gives on the major ideas motivating one major sponsor of government funding of nanotechnology development.
from the Uncle-Sam-wants-Nano dept.
The October 2002 issue of Technology Review features relatively near-term applications of nanoscale science and technology to protecting and arming future soldiers. Part of the material on super soldiers and building tomorrow's body armor is available on the web: "Nano materials could provide future soldiers with super strength, protection against bioweapons and even a way to communicate covertly." The rapidly escalating interest in and support for applying nanotechnology for defensive military purposes (see Nanodot post of April 8, 2002) complicates the task of those proposing to limit or eliminate military uses of nanotechnology (see, for example, Nanodot post of July 15, 2002).
from the Serious-errors dept.
A prominent nanoelectronics researcher whose work has been under a cloud of suspicion for several months has been fired after investigators concluded that he falsified published experimental data. The committee formed by the researcher's employer, Bell Labs, "…concluded that Jan Hendrik Schon, 32, made up or altered data at least 16 times between 1998 and 2001…" The research involved superconductivity, molecular electronics and molecular crystals. Speaking of the tainted results that had received much attention, the committee concluded that Schon "did this intentionally or recklessly and without the knowledge of any of his co-authors." See Famed Nanotech Researcher Axed. Before the results were suspected, they were considered substantial advances in the field. See, for example, a Nanodot post of November 8, 2001.
from the Cultured-Pearly-Whites dept.
Ryan writes "Scientists have found a way to grow teeth in the lab. The Boston Globe has the story on how 'the work raises the possibility that dentists of the future could dispense with mechanical implants – such as dentures, bridges, and crowns – and literally grow new teeth for patients on demand.'"
from the possibly-a-milestone dept.
Mr_Farlops writes "According to Nature, computer simulations have finally become accurate enough to predict the final shape of some small proteins from raw gene sequences. This is one of the central problems of molecular biology and will likely revolutionize drug design, biotechnology and it will have implications for machine-phase nanotechnology. Large proteins are still too unwieldy for current computers to simulate in a timely fashion but this too may become tractable with quantum computers, faster computers and new algorithms."
from the securing-your-personal-stake-in-the-future dept.
Fifth Alcor Conference on Extreme Life Extension
Saturday November 16 & Sunday November 17, 2002
Newport Beach Marriott Hotel near Los Angeles, California
http://www.alcor.org/conferences/2002
Foresight's own Ralph Merkle is conference chair, and both Foresight President Christine Peterson and Foresight Advisor Ray Kurzweil are speaking. Among a host of other excellent speakers, Michael D. West (President and CEO of Advanced Cell Technology) will describe the impressive potential of therapeutic human cloning and Rob Freitas will be talking about the even more impressive potential of nanomedicine.
SAVE $100 — REGISTER by September 30th (it's only a few days away!)
