Donate
Donate

Gaming the Future: The Book!

Results for "molecular manufacturing"

We found 540 results for your search.

Bulk nanomaterials could slash LCD costs

from the really-flat-panel-displays dept.
Brian Wang writes "EE Times has an article of a method for fabricating liquid crystal displays that employs self-assembling molecular arrays, and has the potential of disrupting the $1.3 billion LCD optical material market if its developers are able to bring their research to commercial mass production.
Optiva Inc. (South San Francisco, Calif.) has developed a new proprietary molecular engineering method to produce supramolecular lyotropic liquid crystals and optical coatings based on this material. This method could lead to producing LCDs at one-fifth of today's manufacturing costs."

Detailed Structure Of The Ribosome Described

from the natural-molecular-manufacturing dept.
William Morgan writes "Just a reminder that there is more than one path…
A press release on EurekAlert describes an article in Science about researchers at UC Santa Cruz who used x-ray crystallography to detail the structure of ribosomes."

In a paper published in the 30 March 2001 issue of Science, the researchers describe the structure of a bacterial ribosome in sufficient detail to begin to understand how it works. "This allows us to see what all the key parts are and how they interact," said Harry Noller, head of the group that obtained the new images. "The ribosome is a molecular machine, and it must have moving parts to accomplish its function. We are now in a position to understand the structural rearrangements of the ribosome during protein synthesis," Noller said. The abstract of the paper is freely available online.

Previous research into the fine structure of ribosomes was covered here in July and August of 2000.

Micro (nano) Assembly Proposed by metal industry

from the Industry-outlook dept.
ErenNano writes:
"I found this article while surfing the web. Itís a collection of predictions about where technology is leading, and nano assemblers were mentioned under the term Micro Assembly. An excerpt:
ìThe period of 2030 through the 2050s in manufacturing will be typified by the developments of microfabrication, virtual marketing and testing, and biocomputing. Microfabrication will be the most sweeping transformation for manufacturing since the advent of the computer. It will allow the fabrication of materials and parts at the molecular level, building them with the features we desire (strength, weight, flexibility, and so forth) at incredible levels of material efficiency . . . [W]ith the advent of nanotechnology, microscopic assemblers will grasp reactive molecules and combine them only in preplanned and controlled ways. Through these controlled and repetitive combinations, complex structures may be built up a few atoms at a time . . . The resulting material, and therefore the structure produced, will be many times stronger and lighter than traditional ones. Indeed, they will be stronger and lighter than anything we can build today."

EPA invites exploratory research in nanotech

from the "using-foresight-to-protect-the-environmental-future" dept.

The US Environmental Protection Agency is inviting applications for "Exploratory Research to Anticipate Future Environmental Issues" covering:

  1. Exploratory Research in Nanotechnogy
  2. Futures Research in Natural Sciences
  3. Futures Research in Socio-Economics

The nanotech part encourages a range of MNT-type ideas, natural science futures hopes for novel solutions, while the socio-economic part requests fairly conventional trend analysis. Closing date for the Nanotechnogy Program ($5m available) is June 18, 2001. Read More for a quote from the nanotech RFA.

Pathway for mechanical engineering into the nanotech era

from the What's-in-it-for-ME? dept.

In an interesting article in the ASME journal Mechanical Engineering, ("A Frontier for Engineering," January 2001), Mihail Roco suggests that focused education and training, and collaborative research and development programs offer a pathway for mechanical engineering to enter into the developing nanotechnology "industrial revolution."

Roco is a senior advisor for nanotechnology at the National Science Foundation's Directorate for Engineering, and was a key figure in the formulation of the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative.

According to an accompanying editorial by John G. Falcioni, Editor-in-Chief, Roco's article is the first in a year-long series that will "invite leaders in the field of nano-technology to explore scientific and engineering issues influencing research, testing, development, manufacturing, and commercialization."

Note: These URLs may change. You can access the Mechancial Engineering Magazine site at http://www.memagazine.org.

Read More for excerpts from Roco's article and Falcioni's editorial.

Merkle in Spectrum: preventing nanotech abuse

from the white-hats-must-move-fast dept.
Senior Associate Ralph Merkle has an opinion piece in IEEE Spectrum on preventing nanotech abuse. Excerpt: "Deliberate abuse, the misuse of a technology by some small group or nation to cause great harm, is best prevented by measures based on a clear understanding of that technology. Nanotechnology could, in the future, be used to rapidly identify and block attacks. Distributed surveillance systems could quickly identify arms buildups and offensive weapons deployments, while lighter, stronger, and smarter materials controlled by powerful molecular computers would let us make radically improved versions of existing weapons able to respond to such threats. Replicating manufacturing systems could rapidly churn out the needed defenses in huge quantities. Such systems are best developed by continuing a vigorous R&D program, which provides a clear understanding of the potential threats and countermeasures available."

UCLA wants $300 million for Calif. Nanosystems Institute

from the sooner-or-later-it-will-happen dept.
Three Univ. of Calif. Institutes for Science and Innovation will be selected from proposals made by UC campuses, according to a report in the San Jose Mercury News: "California Nanosystems Institute would focus on the science, engineering and manufacturing of molecular-based structures. Lead campus is UCLA." It's unclear from the article whether this proposal is one of six semi-finalists for the $300 million each new institute will get from combined state and industry matching funds–but if not this time, then soon, somewhere.

Time Magazine: nanotech benefits potentially enormous

from the Time-for-nanotech-time dept.
Senior Associate RalphMerkle reports an item on molecular nanotech not available on the web:"The June 19th 2000 issue of Time Magazine, "The Future of Technology," has a two-page article titled "Will tiny robots build diamonds one atom at a time?" by Michael D. Lemonick on page 94:"On its face, the notion seems utterly preposterous: a single technology so incredibly versatile that it can fight disease, stave off aging, clean up toxic waste, boost the world's food supply and build roads, automobiles and skyscrapers — and that's only to start with…Crazy though it sounds, the idea of nanotechnology is very much in the scientific mainstream, with research labs all over the world trying to make it work."Read More for additional quotes from this well-done article. Merkle comments: Acceptance of the core concepts of molecular nanotechnology is proceeding at an accelerating rate.

US News: why nanotech can't be stopped

from the driven-researcher dept.
Author RobertGrudin recommends this news article in US News & World Report. It includes a clear explanation of why researchers won't stop developing nanotech: "We are compelled to keep going. It is just so cool," says Paul Alivisatos, professor of chemistry at the University of California-Berkeley. "We are knocking on the door of creating new living things, new hybrids of robotics and biology. Some may be pretty scary, but we have to keep going." Read More for additional highlights.

Newt says 20 years to nanotech

from the molecular-rotor-rooters-fan dept.
Senior Associate TomMcKendree alerts us to The Age of Transitions by Newt Gingrich: "Nanotechnology is probably twenty years away but it may be at least as powerful as space or computing in its implications…This approach to manufacturing will save energy, conserve our raw materials, eliminate waste products and produce a dramatically healthier environment. The implications for the advancement of environmentalism and the irrelevancy of oil prices alone are impressive….Imagine drinking with your normal orange juice 3,000,000 molecular rotor rooters to clean out your arteries without an operation." Read More for further comments from Tom. Comment below on your views of Newt: useful to us or not?

Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin Podcast Spotify
0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop
    Continue Shopping

      Search Foresight Institute