Latest articles

In this issue
2 Document(s)  1 Reference(s)  3 Point of view(s)  5 Expertise(s) 

• Big Picture on Nanoscience

   Point of view 
  10 February 2007, by Wellcome Trust
  Dealing with things smaller than 100 nanometres (for comparison, a human hair is 80 000 nm wide), nanotechnologies are fast becoming the ’next big thing’ (only not so big at all). Yet while nano-enthusiasts say they are the future, nano-sceptics are concerned about potential dangers. From nano-hype to nano-nonsense, this issue in the ’Big Picture’ series sifts sense from speculation. What are nanotechnologies and what might they do for us? What (if anything) do we need to worry about? (...)
  
  

• Productive nanosystems: the physics of molecular fabrication

   Expertise 
  10 February 2007, by K. Eric Drexler
  Fabrication techniques are the foundation of physical technology, and are thus of fundamental interest. Physical principles indicate that nanoscale systems will be able to fabricate a wide range of structures, operating with high productivity and precise molecular control. Advanced systems of this kind will require intermediate generations of system development, but their components can be designed and modelled today. To read (...)
  
  

• Molecular Engineering: An Approach to the Development of General Capabilities for Molecular Manipulation

   Expertise 
  10 February 2007, by K. Eric Drexler
  Development of the ability to design protein molecules will open a path to the fabrication of devices to complex atomic specifications, thus sidestepping obstacles facing conventional microtechnology. This path will involve construction of molecular machinery able to position reactive groups to atomic precision. It could lead to great advances in computational devices and in the ability to manipulate biological materials. The existence of this path has implications for the present. This (...)
  
  

• Top Ten Nanotech Products

   Document 
  10 February 2007, by Josh Wolfe
  Our third annual Nanotech Product Guide reveals some interesting trends. The overwhelming majority of commercially-available nanotech products on the market today are in sports. Last year, we featured Nanogate/Holmenkol’s Cerax Nanotech Ski Wax, Babolat Tennis Racquets using nanotubes and longer-lasting nanoparticle tennis balls from Inmat/Wilson. In 2004, sports led the way for nanotechnology commercialization yet again. From golf balls to footwarmers, athlete skin care to new tennis (...)
  
  

• Military Uses of Nanotechnology – the coming scary cold war of Nano-bots and Nano-materials – the invisible deadly Nano-bombs

   Point of view 
  8 February 2007, by Staff Reporter
  Nanotechnology is the generic name given to the production or use of very small, or "nano" particles. These are particles that are less than 100 nanometers or about one-thousandth the width of a human hair. A nanometer is 1 billionth of a meter. Nanotechnology is likely to be extremely important in the future as it allows materials to be built up atom by atom. This can lead to the development of new materials that are better suited for their purpose. There are several branches of (...)
  
  

• A "Small" History of Nanotechnology

   Reference 
  5 February 2007, by Jerry Flattum
  In the Beginning: Richard Feynman In 1959, theoretical physicist Richard Feynman asked a couple of questions: "Why cannot we write the entire 24 volumes of the Encyclopedia Brittanica on the head of a pin?" He also asked, "I put this out as a challenge: Is there no way to make the electron microscope more powerful?" No doubt the folks of the American Physical Society at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) were not only puzzled but also intrigued. (...)
  
  

• What is Nanotechnology?

   Point of view 
  31 January 2007, by CRN
  The Meaning of Nanotechnology When K. Eric Drexler (right) popularized the word 'nanotechnology' in the 1980's, he was talking about building machines on the scale of molecules, a few nanometers wide—motors, robot arms, and even whole computers, far smaller than a cell. Drexler spent the next ten years describing and analyzing these incredible devices, and responding to accusations of science fiction. Meanwhile, mundane technology was developing the ability to build simple (...)
  
  

• What’s So Special about Nanotechnology and Nanoethics?

   Expertise 
  31 January 2007, by Fritz Allhoff, Patrick Lin
  Nanoethics, or the study of nanotechnology’s ethical and social implications, is an emerging but controversial field. Outside of the industry and academia, most people are first introduced to nanotechnology through fictional works that posit scenarios – which scientists largely reject – of self-replicating “nanobots” running amok like a pandemic virus.[1] In the mainstream media, we are beginning to hear more reports about the risks nanotechnology poses on the environment, health and safety, (...)
  
  

• Emerging Uses of Nanotechnology in the Energy Industry

   Expertise 
  31 January 2007, by AIE
  Nanotechnology is an emerging set of platform technologies which has potential to change many of our current industries, including energy. Nanotechnology is attracting significant public and private funding from all nations, particularly the United States, and many companies and industries are starting to look to the field to generate competitive advantages. Three speakers presented different aspects of nanotechnology applications in the energy sector: Dr Peter Binks, CEO of Nanotechnology (...)
  
  

• Nanotechnology Basics: For Students and Other Learners

   Expertise 
  31 January 2007, by CRN
  What is nanotechnology all about? Nanotechnology is the engineering of tiny machines — the projected ability to build things from the bottom up inside personal nanofactories (PNs), using techniques and tools being developed today to make complete, highly advanced products. Ultimately, nanotechnology will enable control of matter at the nanometer scale, using mechanochemistry. Shortly after this envisioned molecular machinery is created, it will result in a manufacturing revolution, (...)
  
  

• Some examples of uses of nanotechnology

   Document 
  31 January 2007, by University of Western Sidney
  The third issue of the UWS Nanotechnology Newsletter was distributed at the UWS Nanotechnology Network meeting on 5 December 2006. This newsletter is directed to secondary school students, their parents and the broader community of Campbelltown-Camden region to assist with understanding what nanotechnology is, how UWS is offering nanotechnology courses and the exciting potential for study and employment in this emerging field. (Nanotechnology Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 2 March (...)