tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33742088923687183792024-03-04T23:25:29.515-08:00blog~nano: Nanoscale Science, Nanotechnologies and Molecular Manufacturing<b>Nanoscale Materials and Nanotechnology: materials whose size ranges from <br>.1nm to 100 nm, and building everyday objects from the nanoscale up.
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Dedicated to an ongoing analysis of nanoscale <br>science and nanotechnologies, and molecular manufacturing.</b>Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.comBlogger295125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-53405253095983240642011-05-04T16:08:00.000-07:002011-05-04T16:09:27.062-07:00I believe in Renewable Energy, and here's whyRenewable energy (RE) is a subjective and divisive topic, one that is influenced by many factors, including corruption, greed and purposeful ignorance, scientific and technological advances, and simple entrepreneurial spirit vs. entrenched interests.<br /><br />Here are some of the reasons that I believe that we will see RE replace old energy by the midpoint of this century:<br /><br />* It has been estimated that an area 55 miles by 55 miles dedicated to current solar technologies could replace all the electrical generating power of coal and oil (in the US). Or an area 80x80 miles to replace oil, coal and natural gas. (Here in the US we have over 100,000 square miles of desert, so space isn’t a problem)<br /><br />* Regarding storage technologies (1) for when the sun is down: consider the advances taking place in fuel cells, batteries (LI, redox flow batteries, and 1300-ton battery modules used for grid stabilization), flywheels, compressed air, ultracapacitors and the likelihood that we will also use battery powered vehicles as storage. <br /><br />* Regarding “getting the power from the solar installation to the people” – consider advances in superconducting wire and other advanced materials which are very likely to enable cheap and efficient transmission of power from where ever it is generated to where ever it is needed. <br /><br />* Rooftop and local solar: My solar powered home won’t have to worry about darkness; we’ll tap into the battery reserve, as will all rooftop solar installations. A small percentage of our overall use to be sure, but significant none the less. <br /><br />And as for explicit subsidies: on a per-energy-unit basis, then yes, solar has received more subsidies than fossil fuels in the very recent past. However, on the amount that each of us taxpayers has spent in a recent five-year period, fossil fuels subsidies far exceed solar.<br /><br />Estimates range: (2)<br /><br />Coal subsidies = somewhere between $17B and $72B <br />Solar subsidies = somewhere between $500M and $5B<br /><br />And let us not forget that coal subsidizes also include intangible (and often purposefully left out) costs for cleaning up the ecosystem, and the public health expenses associated with all of the damage that the mining and use of coal causes. (3)<br /><br />In my opinion, at the end of the day it all boils down to two simple facts: 1) technological change is on a double exponential growth curve (4) and 2) simple entrepreneurial spirit.<br /><br />While we certainly need to wean society off finite, dangerous, polluting resources like coal and oil, the earth can and may go to hell in a handbasket. However, I think that entrepreneurial spirit and the certain fact that there is a barrel of money to be made in renewable energy solutions suggests that we will see RE replace old energy by the midpoint of this century. (5)<br /><br />(1) "Of the ten advanced energy storage technologies, eight have applications in storage for electric power utilities at some level of development, aiming to provide reliable, economic, and energy-efficient power back-up options." Technical Insights Analyst Miriam Nagel<br /><br />A123 Systems currently sells 2MW to 200MW grid stabilization systems (battery systems). Being used for large-scale energy storage deployment to support wind and solar integration. Small in comparison to the overall needs, but just one of many rapidly improving technologies.<br /><br />“If investments in the smart grid infrastructure continue, electric vehicles may become ubiquitous — both because of the economic and environmental sense they make for consumers, and because of the vast store of batteries that will be available to grid operators to balance out the intermittency of wind and solar resources.”<br /><br />“There are several major studies and research showing how the United States could reach 100 percent renewable electricity by 2050. Over the next two decades, the continually rising costs of fossil fuels will make it prohibitive to continue burning them, so we’ll witness the overdue transition to a largely renewable system. Smart grid upgrades will feature two-way communication to consumer appliances, real-time pricing information, more efficient transmission infrastructure, and advanced battery and flywheel technologies to balance the inherent fluctuations of wind and solar resources.”<br /><br />http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/blogs/quayle-hodek-a-young-ceo-running-with-the-wind?hpt=Sbin<br /><br />(2) “What if solar got the same subsidies as coal?” (Oct 21, 2010)<br />http://cleantechnica.com/2010/10/21/what-if-solar-got-the-same-subsidies-as-coal/<br /><br />Coal subsidies: The U.S. coal industry enjoyed subsidies of around $17 billion between 2002 and 2008, including tax credits for production of "nonconventional" fuels ($14.1 billion), tax breaks on coal royalties ($986 million), exploration, and development breaks ($342 million), according to a study by the Environmental Law Institute.<br /><br />http://sierraclub.typepad.com/mrgreen/2010/03/does-the-coal-industry-get-subsidies.html<br /><br />Solar and wind subsidies: So far, the government has handed out about $5.4 billion, according to the Energy Department.<br /><br />http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/18/news/economy/renewable_energy_tax_credit/index.htm<br /><br />(3) Very informative investigative article http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2011/02/03/manchin-coal-subsidies/<br /><br /><br />(4) “Most long range forecasts of technical feasibility in future time periods dramatically underestimate the power of future technology because they are based on what I call the “intuitive linear” view of technological progress rather than the “historical exponential view.” To express this another way, it is not the case that we will experience a hundred years of progress in the twenty-first century; rather we will witness on the order of twenty thousand years of progress (at today’s rate of progress, that is).” Ray Kurzweil http://www.kurzweilai.net/the-law-of-accelerating-returns<br /><br />(5) During the past 11 years, as the editor of the leading nanoscale technologies web portal, I read and posted over 50,000 articles about advanced and frequently mind-blowing technologies. I have closely followed the very rapid progress in our understanding and utilization of the unique properties of the nanoscale (which greatly differ from the properties that we already understand). At the very least, we are headed for a future that not one of us can predict; what we can predict is that we will undoubtedly see old myths about technologies shattered and changes beyond our current level of comprehension.Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-89742792607635006732010-10-20T18:21:00.000-07:002010-10-20T18:28:12.376-07:00Carla wants to know<p>In response to a question posed by one of my oldest and most perceptive friends, I posted what follows to my Facebook profile.</p><p><br />Her question was posed after watching this video <a href="http://vimeo.com/15979195">http://vimeo.com/15979195</a></p><p><br />"Rocky, am I really ignorant and paranoid?</p><p><br />It seems like this technology holds they key to either really, really good stuff for us as a species, or it has the potential for really really bad stuff.</p><p><br />I trust the science and the scientists. I don't trust the Money that controls what's done with the science.</p><p><br />Einstein was a really nice guy. He had no idea his science would be used for war. I don't think any of the Manhattan Project scientists went into it knowing what they were unleashing on the world."</p><p><br />~ Carla Conrad</p><p><br />My answer: A most perspicacious observation, and right on the mark. Occam’s Razor, 21st century style, meaning that you have hit upon the simplest explanation for the potential outcome; like every technological innovation in the past, nanoscale technologies have both the potential for tremendous good and/or tremendous bad. And don’t let my seemingly cavalier use of "tremendous" lull you into a false sense of security; I mean "tremendous" as in "things that have the potential to change everything we think we know about ourselves, while enabling each of us with the power to effect and experience our surroundings in ways heretofore only imagined."</p><p><br />I have been actively and intensely following nanoscale technologies since the early ‘90’s. At the end of the day, my most prescient observation would be that these technologies will have an impact on our global society many times greater than ALL past technological revolutions. Let me put it another way: nanoscale technologies - and the products thereof - will enable far greater change than our discovery, development and use of fire, bronze, iron, steel, electrical power, cars, planes and space travel put together. </p><p><br />Any person, institution or government entity that says "Oh yeah, nanotechnology, we got that handled" is lying their ass off. Equally, any person, institution or government entity that says "Oh yeah, nanotechnology, it’s gonna kill us all in one or more horrible ways" is also lying their ass off. Anyone that fervent usually has a hidden agenda, and one which serves a higher master. You’ll notice I said "usually" – many of my colleagues in the nanospace are humanitarians in the best sense and are talking about and planning for ways in which the good things can be emphasized and the bad minimized or eliminated. </p><p><br />My philosophy is summed up thus:</p><p><br />Nanotechnology will certainly play a pivotal role in our future; now, with the introduction of lighter/stronger materials in the auto, space, and military industries, and later, with the introduction of molecular manufacturing (making items per your specifications, in your own home, for pennies on the dollar of current prices – think "replicator" and you will not be too far off). </p><p><br />Expect to see revolutionary changes in solar, fuel cell and hydrogen storage technologies within the next few years. And expect to see a great deal of interest in and subsequent higher funding of nanotech-enabled sensor technologies for military, homeland security and civilian applications within the next few years. Put another (albeit obvious) way: expect to see cultural tsunamis of a magnitude that rival anything we have thus far experienced. </p><p><br />No informed person doubts that developments at the nanoscale will be significant. We debate the time frame, the magnitude and the possibilities, but not the likelihood for large-scale change. The least-speculative views suggest that we're in for changes of an order that justifies – if not demands – our undivided attention. Will we be ready? (BTW: not kidding, not even the weensiest amount)</p><p><br />OK, off my high horse and back to your previously programmed station… </p>Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-75323923122868966222010-04-04T11:26:00.000-07:002010-04-04T11:37:34.254-07:00Picture of the Day<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt84Chab6EIsnMrHdIqscbAN3H7csyptW8O3PwCFNV8oB0DKrgkeMRFj39H_naTzrFLpV11kC0A1Zs_J_feqLRIjEdyaV8y7szpDRzYLa2xoytHPmBMOHl8MLTEPSWRa8oEbGqcXKomN8/s1600/000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456352466529346002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt84Chab6EIsnMrHdIqscbAN3H7csyptW8O3PwCFNV8oB0DKrgkeMRFj39H_naTzrFLpV11kC0A1Zs_J_feqLRIjEdyaV8y7szpDRzYLa2xoytHPmBMOHl8MLTEPSWRa8oEbGqcXKomN8/s400/000.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>SiC-SiC Composite</strong><br />Francois Willaime, CEA/Saclay, France<br />SEM observation of a mechanical test performed on a SiC-SiC composite.<br /><br />This wonderful image was selected from the MRS "Science as Art" competition held at recent MRS Spring and Fall Meetings.<br /><br /></div>Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-84220440292322825482010-03-25T17:44:00.000-07:002010-03-25T18:02:49.207-07:00Communicating about nanotechnologiesA very nice, short video on emerging nanotechnologies:<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3DREmTiAqA&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3DREmTiAqA&feature=related</a><br /><br />And here, a longer video, Titled "Nano, the next dimension"<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCpkq_AeX50&NR=1&feature=fvwp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCpkq_AeX50&NR=1&feature=fvwp</a><br /><br />And here, videos from Johns Hopkins:<br /><a href="http://inbt.jhu.edu/education/animation-studio">http://inbt.jhu.edu/education/animation-studio</a><br /><br />I continue to be amazed not only with the rapid advances that we are making in our understanding of nanoscale phenomena but also with our ability to communicate that understanding, as with these videos.Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-62052810060317171602010-03-15T10:55:00.000-07:002010-03-15T11:03:47.861-07:00What Would You Say?After a yearlong hiatus, I thought it was about time that I got back on the nano-horse and giddy-yupped into some new thoughts and understandings regarding that tiny little thing we call “nanotechnology.”<br /><br />As previous readers understand, when I say “nanotechnology” I mean all nanoscale technologies, of which there are thousands today and millions on the technological horizon.<br /><br />In late 2009, I presented several thought-leaders with the same question that I had asked in years past. “If you had the attention of the entire world, what would you say about nanoscale technologies?”<br /><br />The answers that I received bring us a step closer to realizing that there continues to be an urgent need for society to pay attention to the mind-boggling rapid growth in our understanding and implementation of nanoscale technologies. Let me put it another way: We are learning more about (and more really important stuff about) why things are different at the nanoscale.<br /><br />There are maybe a few hundred individuals who understand advanced technologies and can articulate their impact as well as these contributors. (Full disclosure: these folks are long-time, long distance, global-connectivity friends and associates. I seriously respect their individual and collective understanding of and opinions regarding advanced technologies. Mike Treder, Robert A. Freitas Jr. , Neil Gordon, Jack Uldrich and Vic Peña are just some of the world-class minds who you should spend a small part of your time listening to, if you do not do so already.)<br /><br /><br /><strong>From the Futurist</strong><br /><br />From the futurist we learn that nanoscale technologies are simply another set of new technologies that we need to understand and prepare for. How important are they? They are important on the order of: today and every day that follows, we will be introduced to another of thousands of new products that owe their technological and market leadership to “nanotechnology.” Today and every day that follows we will be confronted by decisions regarding whether or not to allow a nanotech-enabled product into the market; whether or not to pull an existing product from the market because it is simply connected to “nanotech” (or is in fact faulty in some way, thereby tarnishing with the same brush every other nano-enable product). As sure as the day after today is tomorrow, nanotech-enabled products will create a huge stir within society. How well we adapt to those products depends on how much we pay attention, today.<br /><br /><br /><strong>From the Medical Scientist</strong><br /><br />From the medical scientist we learn that “Medical nanorobotics holds the greatest promise for curing disease and extending the human healthspan.” Cool! Count me in! Nanotech-enabled machines roving around in my body, repairing cellular damage, detecting disease and malfunction, and generally keeping me a fit old son, yeah, count me in. Make me smarter you say?! COUNT ME IN!<br /><br /><br /><strong>From the economists/business men</strong><br /><br />And from the economists/business men we learn that critically important dollars are not being spent on nanoscale technologies, but are instead being squandered on “business as usual” and politics. Why, oh why, do we sit ineffectively by and watch as our leaders, of both parties, waste our dollars and squander both our future and our grandchildren’s heritage?<br /><br />We also learn to have a sense of excitement regarding the short- and long-term potential of nanoscale technologies (in spite of our leader’s ineptitude, short-term-gains mindset and back-room dealings).<br /><br /><em>No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.</em> -- Winston Churchill, November 1947<br /><br /><br />What can we learn from this? Depends on who you are. Average citizens may feel a bit overwhelmed by the exceeding complexity of the science, the enormous potential for societal change, and/or the continued nonsensical meddling in the markets by our elected officials. Scientists, economists, innovators, inventors, investors, and savvy business folk know without a doubt that nano-enabled technologies, followed by the inevitable advanced products, will create massive shock-waves in each of their respective areas. By the way, that means if you can answer “Yes” to “Do you live on Planet Earth?” then count on the fact that the future is going to present us with an increasingly complex and exuberantly abundant supply of new technologies that will change our lifestyles and force us sit up and pay attention.<br /><br />Of course, that is just my take; the futurist, the medical scientist, and the economists/business men may hit you from a totally divergent p-o-v, and yet I bet we all agree that “May you live in interesting times” never meant as much as it does right here, right now (are you paying attention yet?)<br /><br /><strong>Rocky Rawstern, March 15, 2010</strong><br /><br />Here are their answers<br /><br /><br /><strong>Mike Treder – Our Future Depends on Us / Technology is Only a Tool<br /></strong><br />Every technology—no matter how powerful—is never a solution in itself. It is only a tool, to be used by its owners for good or for ill. This is as true for nanotechnology as it was for electricity or for the printing press before it.<br /><br />We should never fall into the trap of looking for or expecting our technologies to save us. Emerging technologies—whether nanotech or AI or synthetic biology do not emerge into nor from a vacuum. They are always developed within a context of political reality, amidst the daily tussle over regulation, funding, and proper usage. They do not arise fully-grown and pristine, but are hammered out, molded, shaped, and modified through endless discussions in corporate boardrooms and the halls of government.<br /><br />Thus, the color of our future depends much more on us—that is, on our political practices and choices—than on our technologies.<br /><br />(c) 2010 Mike Treder<br /><br />Mike Treder is the managing director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, is a prolific writer, speaker, and activist with a background in media and communications. He has published dozens of articles and papers and been interviewed numerous times by the media. As an accomplished presenter on the societal implications of emerging technologies, Mr. Treder has addressed conferences and groups around the world, including in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil.<br /><br />Treder co-founded the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN) in 2002 and served as its executive director for six years. CRN promotes public awareness and education about the implications of molecular manufacturing, with the aim of creating and implementing wise, comprehensive, and balanced plans for global management of the technology. Treder currently sits on the Board of Advisors for CRN.<br /><br />In addition to his work with the IEET, Mike Treder is a consultant to the Millennium Project of the American Council for the United Nations University, serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Lifeboat Foundation, is a member of the New York Academy of Sciences, a consultant to the Future Technologies Advisory Group, and a member of the World Future Society.<br /><br />Visit ieet.org/index.php/IEET/bio/treder/<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Robert A. Freitas Jr. – Molecular Manufacturing and Medical Nanorobotics</strong><br /><br />The ultimate tool of nanomedicine is the medical nanorobot – a robot the size of a bacterium, composed of molecule-size parts somewhat resembling macroscale gears, bearings, and ratchets. Like a regular robot, a nanorobot may be made of many thousands of mechanical parts, such as bearings and gears, composed of strong diamond-like material. A nanorobot will have motors to make things move, and perhaps manipulator arms or mechanical legs for mobility. It will have a power supply for energy, sensors to guide its actions, and an onboard computer to control its behavior. Medical nanorobotics holds the greatest promise for curing disease and extending the human healthspan.<br /><br />To build medical nanorobots, we need to create a new technology called molecular manufacturing. Molecular manufacturing is the production of complex atomically precise structures using positionally controlled fabrication and assembly of nanoparts inside a nanofactory. We’ve published the first description of a complete set of tools and positionally controlled reactions that should enable building small bits of perfect diamond crystal, based on extensive analysis and quantum chemistry simulations of a large number of potential tooltips and reaction sequences.<br /><br />Ralph Merkle and I founded the Nanofactory Collaboration to coordinate a combined experimental and theoretical R&D program to design and build the first working diamondoid nanofactory. This long-term effort is developing the initial technology of positionally controlled mechanosynthesis of diamondoid structures using engineered tooltips and simple molecular feedstock. One of our international colleagues is undertaking direct experiments to build and validate several of our proposed mechanosynthesis tooltips.<br /><br />(c) 2010 Robert A. Freitas Jr.<br /><br />Robert A. Freitas Jr., J.D., published the first detailed technical design study of a medical nanorobot ever published in a peer-reviewed mainstream biomedical journal and is the author of Nanomedicine, the first book-length technical discussion of the medical applications of nanotechnology and medical nanorobotics. Volume I was published in October 1999 by Landes Bioscience while Freitas was a Research Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing (IMM) in Palo Alto, California. Freitas published Volume IIA in October 2003 with Landes Bioscience while serving as a Research Scientist at Zyvex Corp., a nanotechnology company headquartered in Richardson, Texas during 2000-2004. Freitas is now completing Nanomedicine Volumes IIB and III and is also consulting on diamond mechanosynthesis, molecular assembler design, and nanofactory implementation as Senior Research Fellow at IMM. He won the 2009 Feynman Prize in nanotechnology for theory, the 2007 Foresight Prize in Communication, and the 2006 Guardian Award from Lifeboat Foundation.<br /><br />Visit www.rfreitas.com<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Neil Gordon – 2009 was a bad year for nanotechnology<br /></strong><br />The financial demise of long established nanotechnology companies such as Nanogen, Evident Technologies, Luna Innovations, and NanoDynamics may be an expected fall-out of the economic downturn. However, the real impact of the financial crisis to nanotechnology is more pronounced.<br /><br />Technology ventures need funding to develop and commercialize new products. Greater investments are required for advanced offerings employing nanotechnology because of the long time horizon for adopting nanotech into end user products or processes. Not only do nano-enabled products offer the potential for better, faster, cheaper and more environmentally-friendly applications, they also bring high tech R&D and manufacturing jobs that will be in demand for decades to come. So with unprecedented government stimulus spending one might expect a boom time for nanotech companies on the cusp of commercialization.<br /><br />However, what we are seeing is completely different. Money is being used:<br /><br />- to reward financiers for bad investment decisions instead of infusing capital to early stage ventures and Series A venture capitalists.<br />- to create government programs that will increase the cost of health care instead of new technologies for lowering the cost of health care.<br />- for preventing the spread of a flu strain that killed less than 10% of the infected people from a typical seasonal flu rather than funding new technologies for treating more virulent diseases<br />- for deploying under-effective counter-terrorism activities instead of new surveillance technologies for the early detection of explosives, illegal drugs, infected people, toxic food, and contaminated water<br />- to finance bankrupt automobile companies to manufacture the same cars that caused the bankruptcies rather than funding disruptive production and performance innovations that will be competitive against low cost cars from China and India.<br />- for middlemen to manage and extract fees from carbon cap-and-trade schemes rather acquiring prototypes employing breakthrough energy technologies<br /><br />So where does nanotechnology stand at the end of 2009? Apparently at the bottom of the 2009 priority list. 2010 appears to be an equally disappointing year.<br /><br />(c) 2010 Neil Gordon<br /><br />Neil is the CEO of Early Warning, a NASA spin-off company and co-inventor of the world’s first inline diagnostic nano-biosensor that automatically detects pathogenic bacteria, viruses and parasites in water in under 3 hours. He was previously the President of the Canadian NanoBusiness Alliance, and head of a nanotechnology consulting practice at Sygertech where he was involved in over 20 nanotechnology projects over the last 10 years.<br /><br />Visit http://www.earlywarninginc.com/<br /><br />and<br /><br />nanoscale-materials-and-nanotechnolog.blogspot.com/2009/01/neil-gordon-goes-to-market.html<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jack Uldrich – The impact of nanotechnology is going to be huge</strong><br /><br />To those who don't believe nanotechnology will change the world in the near future just because it hasn't accomplished much in the last 20 years, consider this little quiz: If a single lily pad began doubling on a pond on the first day of June and doubled each day thereafter until the entire pond was covered by the end of the month, on Day 20 what percentage of the pond would be covered with lily pads?<br /><br />The answer is one-tenth of one percent. That's right, .1%! What happens over the next 10 days is a little short of amazing -- the entire pond gets covered. Such is the nature of exponential growth.<br /><br />Now, advances in nanotechnology aren't quite experiencing exponential growth but they are close and over the course of the next decade nanotechnology's impact on material sciences, medicine, and energy are -- like the lily pads' spread over pond in the last few days -- going to be extraordinary."<br /><br />(c) 2010 Jack Uldrich<br /><br />jumpthecurve.net<br />unlearning101.com<br />Follow Jack at http://twitter.com/jumpthecurve<br /><br /><br /><strong>Vic Peña – The future is here and achievable!</strong><br /><br />About five years ago, I responded to a similar question. Like this. At that time I was firmly convinced that we had reached an historic milestone in the evolution of science, namely the foundation for the research and development of nanoscale technologies. I still have this conviction. In fact, I am more enthusiastic of the possibilities open to the human experience through nanoscale technologies. “The future is here and achievable.”<br /><br />The future is here. We are achieving it (especially during the last decade) by accelerating, building, and evolving the principles upon which nanoscale technologies research and development thrive. We have created myriad nano-applications for development and commercialization not generally known or available in the past. We have brought the future to the present and are progressing towards greater achievement.<br /><br />At the same time, we can say we are not the yet. Achievement in nanoscale technologies is an evolutionary process integrating all disciplines of science. And, we recognize that nanoscale achievement is critically dependent on education and funding. In the United States, the National Nanotechnology Initiative is at the forefront in promoting these. Admittedly, these are subject to the vagaries of societal and economic factors, but consider the advances made in nanoscale technologies.<br /><br />Imagine what is achievable in our now and present future.<br /><br />So, what do I say about nanoscale technologies? The future is here and achievable!<br /><br />(c) 2010 Vic Peña<br /><br />Co-Founder, nanoTITAN, Inc. (now shuttered)<br />Former Member, President’s Council of Advisers in Science and Technology (PCAST), Nanotechnology Technical Advisory Group (NTAG)<br />Former Chairman, Nanotechnology Committee, Northern Virginia Technology Council<br />Former Member Nanotechnology Advisory Committee, The Virginia House of Delegates<br />Founding Member Initiative for Nanotechnology in Virginia<br /><br /><br /><strong>In closing<br /></strong><br />I would like to close with the response from Ray Kurzweil from the previous Q&A. Why am I closing with this quote? Because it best illustrates the immediacy of the need for us to start paying attention (with graphs and charts and things that even I can understand!). (1)<br /><br /><em>When we have full molecular manufacturing, we will be able to create any physical products we need from information files just as we can create music, movies, and books from pure information today. In about twenty years, the original goals of communism ("from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs") will be achieved not through forced collectivism but through the information technologies of nanotechnology and artificial intelligence.<br /></em><br />When will we have full molecular manufacturing? About 10 years after people stop laughing about the difficulty of building the first nanofactory. Let me put it another way: sometime within the next 15 years, possibly a lot sooner. Does that give us enough time to prepare? Certainly, but only if we start now.<br /><br />May you live in interesting times!<br /><br />Rocky Rawstern<br /><br />(1) http://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/art0134.html?printable=1<br /><br /><br />From the previous Q & A:<br /><br />http://nanoscale-materials-and-nanotechnolog.blogspot.com/2006/12/nanotechnology-q-pt-i.html<br /><br />http://nanoscale-materials-and-nanotechnolog.blogspot.com/2006/12/nanotechnology-q-pt-i-more.html<br /><br />http://nanoscale-materials-and-nanotechnolog.blogspot.com/2006/12/nanoscale-materials-q-pt-i.html<br /><br />http://nanoscale-materials-and-nanotechnolog.blogspot.com/2006/12/nanotechnology-q-pt-i-more_21.htmlRocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-35407550042812131972009-02-16T19:11:00.000-08:002009-02-16T19:26:35.855-08:00Issues and Strategies for Marketing “Nano Inside”Nanotechnology-based products that address large consumer markets are increasingly being launched. Management at companies making and selling such products must decide how to market those products. In particular, companies must decide whether their marketing campaigns should emphasize the nanoscale components or materials inside of the products. In this article, Patti Hill analyzes the issues associated with a “nano inside” marketing campaign. She provides examples of successful marketing campaigns such as the Intel Inside® Program, highlights the challenges associated with a “nano inside” marketing campaign, and makes recommendations for companies seeking to market nanotech-based products.<br /><br />A very well considered article from one of today's leading PR minds. <br /><br />In an earlier post, I told you about my small contribution of background info to Patti Hill's article, at this <a href="http://nanoscale-materials-and-nanotechnolog.blogspot.com/2008/12/following-is-email-conversation-i-had.html">LINK</a>.Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-67237859694786153682009-02-04T10:12:00.000-08:002009-02-04T10:20:33.477-08:00Singularity University<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZlgHxa9Lsio&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZlgHxa9Lsio&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br /><strong>What is the mission of SU?</strong><br /><br />"Singularity University aims to assemble, educate and inspire a cadre of leaders who strive to understand and facilitate the development of exponentially advancing technologies and apply, focus and guide these tools to address humanity’s grand challenges."<br /><br />If they can get funding this will be exciting!<br /><br />"We are now in the steep part of the exponential trajectory of information technologies in a broad variety of fields, including health, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. It is only these accelerating technologies that have the scale to address the major challenges of humanity ranging from energy and the environment to disease and poverty. With its strong focus on interdisciplinary learning, Singularity University is poised to foster the leaders who will create a uniquely creative and productive future world.”<br /><br />Ray KurzweilRocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-2743100578384196872009-01-21T20:46:00.001-08:002009-01-21T20:50:44.251-08:00Better Tools<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYzIW_CPvQqOO-9uehUMEYgpzgPQua4YVu0zebnLSwGgWUeN7D21sGtJhBMVC7hPl_KsZITouEKXRzWP_qBToiuQd631KI_7ciPYL2vMP-iQRfvKosmKIjC71kVY-KobsVSv0JGD1VYY/s1600-h/31847.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293974992929534626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 238px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYzIW_CPvQqOO-9uehUMEYgpzgPQua4YVu0zebnLSwGgWUeN7D21sGtJhBMVC7hPl_KsZITouEKXRzWP_qBToiuQd631KI_7ciPYL2vMP-iQRfvKosmKIjC71kVY-KobsVSv0JGD1VYY/s400/31847.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />In our quest to better understand the properties of nanoscale materials (which differ from their larger macroscale cousins) scientists are developing new tools such as the one used to create the image above.<br /><br />"This image of an early moment in the simulated mixing of two fluids was created by researchers using a powerful new algorithm they developed to extract features and patterns from massive data sets. In the image, blue and red spheres and the lines between them represent the branching of pockets of fluid."<br /><br />"A powerful computing tool that allows scientists to extract features and patterns from enormously large and complex sets of raw data has been developed by scientists at University of California, Davis, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The tool - a set of problem-solving calculations known as an algorithm - is compact enough to run on computers with as little as two gigabytes of memory."<br /><br />Credit: Attila Gyulassi/UC Davis copyright UC Regent<br /><br />Click on the title to read the whole article at Nanotechnology NowRocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-22241010106481948032009-01-20T11:07:00.000-08:002009-01-20T11:14:20.508-08:00Giving Science Back it's VoiceIn today’s inaugural speech, President Obama gives us hope that science and technology won’t be strangled by special interests nor it’s voice hushed by our leaders in government for political gain. <br /><br />“The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories.”<br /><br />Why mention this on a nanotechnology blog? Simple, really; every one of the areas mentioned above will be enabled by nanoscale technologies.Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-5387628636866839122009-01-19T16:59:00.000-08:002009-01-19T17:03:07.612-08:00Picture of the day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qetkjp8VAUdtVD3brhX5ZL4xwa5MNjVTWoQvyYmro3bXONm7MiTP1BfHCx-JG-iI21gffANMCvfANdzCU9R6pg4xntsA3kiy82Xu0NRjFkdF7yoPFzcqBeqqyZA4bq8MSdfy8VC-pU4/s1600-h/teoSiNW2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293174537965841554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qetkjp8VAUdtVD3brhX5ZL4xwa5MNjVTWoQvyYmro3bXONm7MiTP1BfHCx-JG-iI21gffANMCvfANdzCU9R6pg4xntsA3kiy82Xu0NRjFkdF7yoPFzcqBeqqyZA4bq8MSdfy8VC-pU4/s400/teoSiNW2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">VLS Silicon Nanowire</div><br />High-crystalline silicon and other semiconducting nanowires are key building blocks for electronic devices, light emitting devices, field emission sources and sensors. Pictured is a crystalline silicon nanowire grown by the vapour-liquid-solid mechanism (VLS). VLS growth is so named because the constituents in gas form precipitate through a liquid catalyst onto a solid crystallin surface. Thermal-vapour-growth from solid precursors, usually in a high temperature furnace, is the most common way to obtain a bulk production of nanowires.<br /><br />Source: <a href="http://www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~www-edm/people/kbkt2.html">K.B.K. Teo </a><br /><br />Original post by Ryan Munden at <a href="http://www.nanopicoftheday.org/">http://www.nanopicoftheday.org/</a>Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-3217535785172141522009-01-19T16:47:00.000-08:002009-01-19T18:37:14.630-08:00Nanomedicine Today<p>To get excited about the potential of nanomedicine (AKA: nanobiotechnology) all one need do is read the headlines at sites like Nanotechnology Now.<br /><br />Here are a few since January 1st: <ul type="disc"><li>Nano "Tractor Beam" Traps DNA <li>Revolutionize the utility of adult stem cells through nanotechnology <li>Tiny capsules deliver <li>Wireless microgrippers grab living cells <li>Tool Gives a Glimpse of Biomolecules in Motion <li>New guidelines open up the potential of molecular diagnostics <li>Lab-in-a-Cartridge for Fast and Accurate Detection of Cancer and Infectious Diseases <li>Nanotubes Sniff Out Cancer Agents in Living Cells <li>Artificial Antibody Delivers Nanoparticles to Tumors <li>Toxin-Nanoparticle Combo Inhibits Brain Cancer Invasion While Imaging Tumors <li>Microfluidic Devices Capture and Analyze Single Cancer Cells <li>Biodegradable Nanoprobe Images New Blood Vessel Growth <li>Polymer Nanoparticle for Oral Anticancer Drug Delivery <li>A fantastic voyage brought to life <li>Synthetic HDL: A New Weapon to Fight Cholesterol Problems (as illustrated, next)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4u0b7e3-fz-YcdznMvQg-sM6R1fpPxn98xn9W4QJVthqhZJjgL14XuuTW5xklrI1RuMHriOYQxF6R0A2G7YQOsZ3dDXv7j3dpT_wfXZ6558Arbs2dbJZQExKTzdVu5rMFmJr9IBRhO8/s1600-h/31934.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293171907820743938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 287px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4u0b7e3-fz-YcdznMvQg-sM6R1fpPxn98xn9W4QJVthqhZJjgL14XuuTW5xklrI1RuMHriOYQxF6R0A2G7YQOsZ3dDXv7j3dpT_wfXZ6558Arbs2dbJZQExKTzdVu5rMFmJr9IBRhO8/s400/31934.jpg" border="0" /></a> </li></ul><p>“The researchers successfully designed synthetic HDL and show that their nanoparticle version is capable of irreversibly binding cholesterol. The synthetic HDL, based on gold nanoparticles, is similar in size to HDL and mimics HDL's general surface composition.”<br /><br />http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=31934<br /><br />Now, more than ever, nanobiotechnologies are looking increasingly promising for applications in screening, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of today’s more pernicious diseases. While I was cautiously optimistic back in the 1990’s and into the ‘00’s, I am now certain that nanobio will enable many lifesaving technologies in the next decade. Some of which may do more than just detect and cure; they may even help extend our productive life spans, giving each of us several more decades (or more) of good health and vitality.<br /><br />There is also good news on the “safety” front:</p><ul type="disc"><li>Nanotech Safety High on Congress' Priority List</li></ul>My advice? If you have time only for visits to just two sites per day, consider time spent at Nanotechnology Now and Responsible Nanotechnology a must.<br /><br />http://www.nanotech-now.com/<br />http://crnano.typepad.com/<br /><br />Want to learn more about nanotechnology in general? Here are a few sites that offer information essential to understanding nanoscale technologies:<br /><br />What is Nanotechnology? -- http://www.crnano.org/whatis.htm<br />Howard Lovy’s Nanobot -- http://nanobot.blogspot.com/<br />Wikipedia -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology<br />Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies --http://www.nanotechproject.org/<br /><br />And by all means read the books you see listed on the right column on this blog.Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-50528043044464142322009-01-15T16:24:00.000-08:002009-01-15T16:26:57.873-08:00Memo to Pres. Obama: Advanced Nanotechnology - What, When, and Why"Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale. In its advanced form, which should be achieved within the next decade or two, the technology will allow a revolution in manufacturing—building powerful products with atomic precision from the bottom up—and could fundamentally alter our ability to confront challenging issues such as climate change. <br /><br />Some experts confidently predict that once exponential general-purpose molecular manufacturing is achieved, our worries about global warming and climate change will be over. A relatively simple solution like tiny balloons fitted with adjustable mirrors could, they say, give us all the control we will need to moderate warming and create preferred climate conditions." <br /><br />Mike Treder <br />Executive Director <br />Center for Responsible Nanotechnology <br />http://CRNano.orgRocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-71402994369291729492009-01-13T12:26:00.000-08:002009-01-13T12:33:01.885-08:00Bristles hugging a polystyrene sphere<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZsaGdBQTCc_Wj9Ypik-iSp2c_Ve5UadMkLk_z5ceW4tAOKt30ttOSDW-rq9hn-EPmibeJMmCaVP_F5w_DHvsaafDkn5Z1HxV65Wg7C3lCkxFIIdBXGqLsIIyj7aNf4r7tG1WkC3l13E/s1600-h/Sphere_in_hand1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 364px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZsaGdBQTCc_Wj9Ypik-iSp2c_Ve5UadMkLk_z5ceW4tAOKt30ttOSDW-rq9hn-EPmibeJMmCaVP_F5w_DHvsaafDkn5Z1HxV65Wg7C3lCkxFIIdBXGqLsIIyj7aNf4r7tG1WkC3l13E/s400/Sphere_in_hand1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290878900580669570" /></a><br /><br />“From the structure of DNA to nautical rope to distant spiral galaxies, helical forms are as abundant as they are useful in nature and manufacturing alike. Researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have discovered a way to synthesize and control the formation of nanobristles, akin to tiny hairs, into helical clusters and have further demonstrated the fabrication of such highly ordered clusters, built from similar coiled building blocks, over multiple scales and areas.<br /><br />The finding has potential use in energy and information storage, photonics, adhesion, capture and release systems, and as an enhancement for the mixing and transport of particles. Lead authors Joanna Aizenberg, Gordon McKay Professor of Materials Science at SEAS and the Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, and L Mahadevan, Lola England de Valpine Professor of Applied Mathematics at SEAS, reported the research in the January 9 issue of Science.”<br /><br />Credit: Courtesy of Aizenberg lab at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences<br /><br />Click title to read entire article at Nanotechnology NowRocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-62282269209587159372009-01-13T11:25:00.000-08:002009-01-13T12:25:15.948-08:00Self Assembling Cubes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzayjI0W0ddxR1zm-j0ip_JIpPYa1GMZfJzXRP_-wQgr9lX6YOzcXLe4Y7jotbGqBu-ln4XaGNKkgGMlUsuTMmXSOUhgro1ZRPQnDSJHwhYGFJsWAkSAhTLxTInZr-cFfVLlNK5iQatBg/s1600-h/cubes.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzayjI0W0ddxR1zm-j0ip_JIpPYa1GMZfJzXRP_-wQgr9lX6YOzcXLe4Y7jotbGqBu-ln4XaGNKkgGMlUsuTMmXSOUhgro1ZRPQnDSJHwhYGFJsWAkSAhTLxTInZr-cFfVLlNK5iQatBg/s400/cubes.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290876650804516450" /></a><br /><br />Nanobiotechnology is forecast to be one of the nanosciences that will make near-term and dramatic changes to how we detect and treat disease, and therefore to society. <br /><br />The Institute for NanoBioTechnology at Johns Hopkins University is one of the rapidly growing number of first-class research organizations that is at the forefront of nanobio. <br /><br />“The Gracias Lab at Johns Hopkins University develops minimally invasive microscale and nanoscale tools and devices for medicine. They trigger specially prepared 2d surfaces to assemble into 3d objects.”<br /><br />Click on the title to go to the video.<br /><br />Thanks to:<br /><br />Martin Rietveld<br />Web Director<br />Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology<br /><a title="This external link will open in a new window" href="http://inbt.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" eudora="autourl">http://inbt.jhu.edu</a>Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-10027741167817925572009-01-06T09:50:00.001-08:002009-01-06T09:52:11.115-08:00Picture of the day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtH6O3XzfhSFJyTtHrBmULAVViItJmfs4oeGgwY-MOE6mbDzDm_JSZESg7DLez1TzfPUoqwWEbTnyyt9UHmo85fO23u1zUHLfIM8kdeQp-4FRlFhw7cWZG3bhaxDJkJ94JmtelW158sZ0/s1600-h/ABRing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288239787655270994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtH6O3XzfhSFJyTtHrBmULAVViItJmfs4oeGgwY-MOE6mbDzDm_JSZESg7DLez1TzfPUoqwWEbTnyyt9UHmo85fO23u1zUHLfIM8kdeQp-4FRlFhw7cWZG3bhaxDJkJ94JmtelW158sZ0/s400/ABRing.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A microfabricated gold ring for Aharonov-Bohm type experiments, which test the modulation of quantum-interference contributions of electrons due to the presence of a magnetic field. Dimensions are: 70 nm wide, 20 nm thick with a diameter of about 800 nm.<br /><div></div><br />Source: <a href="http://www.unibas.ch/phys-meso/">Christian Schönenberger </a><br /><div></div><br /><div>Original post by Ryan Munden at <a href="http://www.nanopicoftheday.org/">http://www.nanopicoftheday.org/</a></div>Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-8955548032302681642009-01-05T17:28:00.000-08:002009-01-05T17:30:07.413-08:00In My OpinionIn the late 1980’s, I became aware that science effects society at an ever-growing pace. As a 20-year observer of the nanospace and the daily news thereof, I know that nanotechnologies will be those that are responsible for the lion’s share of radical change; you cannot read about the significant number of advances in the nanosciences and come to any other conclusion. <em>"Nano" is not a fad.</em><br /><br />I also know this: the more rapid the growth in the number of new/advanced technologies the sooner we must start preparing for subsequent changes in society; changes real <em>and</em> imagined, and in most cases, difficult to predict. Given the exponential growth in our understanding of the nanoscale and the likelihood that many of our new insights will turn into commercial products and services, the time for discussion and preparation is now.<br /><br />No informed person doubts that developments at the nanoscale will be significant. We debate the time-frame, the magnitude and the possibilities, but not the likelihood for large-scale change. The least-speculative views suggest that we're in for changes of an order that justifies--if not demands--our undivided attention. Will we be ready?Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-39835135901225973132009-01-05T16:50:00.000-08:002009-01-05T16:52:40.827-08:00Zinc Oxide Microtrumpet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAAfN_McaTkdgP5mQF3-_2BbnXGrwQ3bDO16UQqxEy6GkdRwkmmOC18gBQENQBS9pcdX0EzgM3OgdQjLsAU4Ss8FndE7zpHmxl6KSMC9A17Fuz8Mv-R7yJhrk1OZJzejdZ3umqK4Y5SI/s1600-h/ZnOtube.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287976929745061810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 255px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAAfN_McaTkdgP5mQF3-_2BbnXGrwQ3bDO16UQqxEy6GkdRwkmmOC18gBQENQBS9pcdX0EzgM3OgdQjLsAU4Ss8FndE7zpHmxl6KSMC9A17Fuz8Mv-R7yJhrk1OZJzejdZ3umqK4Y5SI/s400/ZnOtube.gif" border="0" /></a><br />Prismatic zinc oxide microtubes have been fabricated by vapor transport. Room-temperature ultraviolet lasing action has been demonstrated in these microtube arrays. The ZnO microtubes, mainly appearing in a tapped bell-mouthed shape, form natural laser cavities along the length direction. The hexagon diagonal and length of the microtube vary from 1 um to 20 um and 10 um to a few hundred um respectively. Under 355nm optical excitation, lasing action is observed at room-temperature around 393nm. Multi-longitudinal modes are also observed with significantly narrowed emission linewidth.<br /><br /><p>Source: <a href="http://www.ntu.edu.sg/eee/eee6/cv/sunxiaowei.html">Sun Xiao Wei</a></p>Original post by Ryan Munden at <a href="http://www.nanopicoftheday.org/">http://www.nanopicoftheday.org/</a><br /><p></p><br /><p> </p><br /><div></div>Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-77276570135069261102009-01-05T16:10:00.000-08:002009-01-05T16:55:55.461-08:00Nanotechnology: Ethics and Society<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSY9drlf3E5ZoykJ4xz0WUo8Dh_xof6RXKqd5pGM6v-4EpLmapcw7w5hlyKmvdsO96RJ037UcRMbgoaLJShPphcM-temo9PMPQbjD6FJDpO4hi-WwRpbJVwxIhirIfpNzVksrUXlpdIOo/s1600-h/quoted.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287967235613418306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSY9drlf3E5ZoykJ4xz0WUo8Dh_xof6RXKqd5pGM6v-4EpLmapcw7w5hlyKmvdsO96RJ037UcRMbgoaLJShPphcM-temo9PMPQbjD6FJDpO4hi-WwRpbJVwxIhirIfpNzVksrUXlpdIOo/s400/quoted.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>In her latest book <em>Nanotechnology: Ethics and Society</em> Dr. Deb Bennett-Woods talks about the ethics of dealing with rapidly changing technologies, in specific, those enabled by our greater understanding of the nanoscale. Depending on who is talking, nanotechnology means many different things. What everyone <em>can</em> agree on is that a) nanotechnology (whatever it is) will enable a huge number of new technologies and consumer products, and b) we need to prepare now.<br /><br />Another in a growing chorus of knowledgeable persons and organizations, Dr. Bennett-Woods brings her expertise to bear in an exceedingly complex topic: ethics of scientific discovery and the subsequent technologies and products.<br /><br />As part of her research, Dr. Bennett-Woods asked that I say a few words, which you see, above. Click image to see larger version.<br /><br />From the book: <em>Nanotechnology promises to be the next great human technological revolution, but such change often comes at the price of unforeseen consequences. Nanotechnology: Ethics and Society explores several of the practical and ethical dilemmas presented by this technological leap.</em><br /><br /><strong><em>Nanotechnology: Ethics and Society</em></strong><br />By Deb Bennett-Woods<br />Published by CRC Press, 2008<br />ISBN 1420053523, 9781420053524<br />312 pages<br /><br />Learn more about Deb Bennett-Woods, Director and Associate Professor, Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions at Regis University<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nanoscienceworks.org/people/bennett-woods-deb">http://www.nanoscienceworks.org/people/bennett-woods-deb</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.regis.edu/regis.asp?sctn=rhhce&p1=fac&p2=dbennett">http://www.regis.edu/regis.asp?sctn=rhhce&p1=fac&p2=dbennett</a><br /><br />Foresight Institute Prize in Communication<br /><a href="http://bir-consulting.com/2005-Foresight-Prize-in-Communication.htm">http://bir-consulting.com/2005-Foresight-Prize-in-Communication.htm</a>Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-54994384758608272262009-01-04T11:41:00.000-08:002009-01-04T11:49:03.609-08:00Picture of the day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghL0puOdC3ljv-E64HtNaXyRu7a4xN-wkHJSO3KtXug_csTETbU1a7IyNnVz4cKN0ZvV3Qc5VTbMi_96xZUdWDg_g4OVIZUQfWetyZuBBX1UndU9kY1jEh3Hl98wLH8VrvlNFdMN9dggk/s1600-h/nanowalls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287526454506726274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghL0puOdC3ljv-E64HtNaXyRu7a4xN-wkHJSO3KtXug_csTETbU1a7IyNnVz4cKN0ZvV3Qc5VTbMi_96xZUdWDg_g4OVIZUQfWetyZuBBX1UndU9kY1jEh3Hl98wLH8VrvlNFdMN9dggk/s400/nanowalls.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Interfacing semiconducting nanostructures with conducting or insulating substrates to attain a three-dimensional (3D) integrated platform is highly desirable for advanced nanoscale electronics and optoelectronics applications. As such, the assembly and synthesis of these nanostructures, which demonstrate multiple dimensionality, using a bottom-up approach would be useful. In this example, 1D ZnO nanowires about 80nm in diameter grow vertically out of the junctions of 80nm thick ZnO nanowalls.</div><div><br /> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Source: <a href="http://ipt.arc.nasa.gov/nano_rd.html">Hou Tee Ng </a></div><div><br /> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Original post by Ryan Munden at <a href="http://www.nanopicoftheday.org/">http://www.nanopicoftheday.org/</a></div>Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-33363380114006827682009-01-04T11:34:00.000-08:002009-01-04T11:39:46.972-08:00Solar Power Game-Changer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfSQ6HkqD65UKFguWXnrkNXVcXh6r1RgTPyy5ZtvhQeKJ9-5_qJBI9qGtFlpGfUd8s5e721_OL4lKvbNHut_DOkLuNIt_QzoBFegznFZX7DSuoYEAk_wPh3GYo_pLeXR0xC5K47Rw5NI/s1600-h/110308-coating.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287524481266144962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 221px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfSQ6HkqD65UKFguWXnrkNXVcXh6r1RgTPyy5ZtvhQeKJ9-5_qJBI9qGtFlpGfUd8s5e721_OL4lKvbNHut_DOkLuNIt_QzoBFegznFZX7DSuoYEAk_wPh3GYo_pLeXR0xC5K47Rw5NI/s400/110308-coating.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Over the years I have been, perhaps, overly enthusiastic regarding practical applications of nanoscale technologies. Given the huge number of announcements and the abundant zealous fervor accompanying discoveries of nanoscale material properties, it seemed that "game changing" technologies were just around the corner. Well, they’ve been around the corner for the last 10 years.<br /><br />Now, however, comes an announcement from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) regarding solar energy, titled <em>"’Near Perfect’ Absorption of Sunlight, From All Angles."</em><br /><br />What does that mean? I’ll let them tell it: "By developing a new antireflective coating that boosts the amount of sunlight captured by solar panels and allows those panels to absorb the entire solar spectrum from nearly any angle, the research team has moved academia and industry closer to realizing high-efficiency, cost-effective solar power."<br /><br />The words to watch here are "closer to realizing," so don’t count your chickens just yet. While it looks promising, and their statement "After a silicon surface was treated with (the) new nanoengineered reflective coating … the material absorbed 96.21 percent of sunlight shone upon it" could portend a game changing technology, I’m not going to step out on a limb until someone coughs up the bucks to turn this cool lab technology into a real-world cost-effective application. It <em>does</em> look promising. Game changing? Who knows. I’ll let the market decide.Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-14338637521548932322009-01-02T16:55:00.001-08:002009-01-04T11:49:43.748-08:00100 Years<object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OuvGbuNwa6I&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OuvGbuNwa6I&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br />Old friend and Access Nanotechnology colleague Jack Uldrich is spreading the "Jump the Curve" message via YouTube, which I believe is a very smart move. Prior to this move to video you could read a lot of Jack’s very well considered and insightful words on the Internet. NOW you can hear him speak his mind; a much more enlightening medium, in my opinion.<br /><br />One clear message that I have picked up is Jack’s reminder that in the next 25 years we will likely experience as much or more change (advances) in technologies than we did in the past 100 years. We’re talking exponential rate of change, especially in our understanding of the nanoscale; that’s a doubling each and every 6 – 18 months. "The year 2025 will be as different from today as today is from 1900." That alone should make you stand up and take notice.<br /><br />Sign up for his Channel; I just did.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/juldrich">http://www.youtube.com/user/juldrich</a><br /><br /><a href="http://access-nanotechnology.com/">http://access-nanotechnology.com/</a>Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-90173718528769736862009-01-02T16:22:00.000-08:002009-12-14T10:04:11.829-08:00Neil Gordon Goes to MarketOld friend and Access Nanotechnology colleague Neil Gordon, formerly of the Canadian NanoBusiness Alliance, is now at the helm of a company that will soon have an actual nanotechnology-enabled product. Neil’s new company, Early Warning, is in the sensor business. Biohazard Early Warning System, that is.<br /><br />Neil’s background in the development and commercialization of diverse high technology products in information technology, aerospace and defense, engineering-construction, and nanotechnology sectors will serve him well in his new position as President and Chief Executive Officer.<br /><br />His focus has shifted from nanotechnology to the <em>application</em> of nanotechnology in preventing the transmission of biohazards. Why? Biohazards kill 18.4 million and sicken over 1 billion people each year.<br /><br />Expect to see their water testing product line in the winter of 2008/09.<br /><br />From their site: "Early Warning has an exclusive license from NASA to commercialize its revolutionary nanotechnology-based biosensor developed for space applications. The biosensor works when a single strand of nucleic acid comes into contact with a matching strand of nucleic acid attached to the end of an ultra-conductive nanotube. The matching strands form a double helix that generates an electrical signal which is used to determine the presence of specific microorganisms in the sample. Because of their tiny size, millions of nanotubes can fit on a single biosensor chip allowing identification of very low levels."<br /><br />Personally, I have very high expectations of success for both Neil, Early Warning, and their nanotechnology-enabled products.<br /><br /><a href="http://access-nanotechnology.com/">http://access-nanotechnology.com/</a><br /><br />http://www.earlywarninginc.com/Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-14208730647587314002009-01-02T16:00:00.000-08:002009-01-02T16:15:38.937-08:00He's Back!"...where my nano obsession began back in 2001, when I helped launch one of the first nanotech magazines and Website. Small Times has asked me to return as a contributing editor and blogger" says Howard Lovy, most recently holding forth at his blog, Nanobot.<br /><br />Howard will be a once-again-welcome voice at an excellent resource for both new and old nanotechnologistas. His interpretation of the nanospace and subsequent writings continue to be a must-read for stakeholders.<br /><br />Along with his wit and wisdom, I look forward to reading more of Howard’s insightful analysis and commentary.Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-35973884824301293592009-01-02T15:05:00.001-08:002009-01-02T15:07:28.817-08:00Nano Trees<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRSuX3N9WLXvt7YWo7fb8hUrEa6sXU3me_eXIRYt5HHbbYg3UWTqusH8mE1t_wcPNAlF1frUzgLPCUPqQdp7T-C5edCobR-85wemEyocf25Qn9paPLMRpaBRyDa2Lu7pCBk2QAAdN7rs/s1600-h/GWH-nanotree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286836695376474546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRSuX3N9WLXvt7YWo7fb8hUrEa6sXU3me_eXIRYt5HHbbYg3UWTqusH8mE1t_wcPNAlF1frUzgLPCUPqQdp7T-C5edCobR-85wemEyocf25Qn9paPLMRpaBRyDa2Lu7pCBk2QAAdN7rs/s400/GWH-nanotree.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />3-dimensional Si composite nanostructure, taken with a scanning electron microscope, by Ghim Wei Ho. <div></div>Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3374208892368718379.post-15275848609545770122009-01-01T17:15:00.000-08:002009-01-01T17:16:47.328-08:00Nano Today Cover Competition<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tvBRZsIhdvPNu8JZSbLm6-zAqc1Pq6D7Mqh6tDGkKtP6YqCB5PX3bo6vILWgxgqc_XYHePTblJiSSYacMDfFuI7l_dHDM8n4_gR2EzeIyDnO2JAnLAxRTo4AoukB9ublnDS80s51M20/s1600-h/ntjan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286498863403684818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 360px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 325px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tvBRZsIhdvPNu8JZSbLm6-zAqc1Pq6D7Mqh6tDGkKtP6YqCB5PX3bo6vILWgxgqc_XYHePTblJiSSYacMDfFuI7l_dHDM8n4_gR2EzeIyDnO2JAnLAxRTo4AoukB9ublnDS80s51M20/s400/ntjan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Spiraling pine tree-like PbS nanowires are evidence of nanowire growth driven by screw dislocations without the help of metal catalysts. Screw dislocation drives the rapid growth of the nanowire tree trunk and causes the lattice of the trunks to twist (called "Eshelby Twist") and their epitaxial branches to spiral. See Science 2008, 320, 1060.Matthew J. Bierman, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA <div></div>Rocky Rawsternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814453828084049788noreply@blogger.com0