Home > News > 2006 and the plutocracy
January 24th, 2007
2006 and the plutocracy
Abstract:
In the "life industries" sector the most important deal was the purchase of the Biomet company bought by an investment combine including the Blackstone Group and the Texas Pacific Group. This acquisition is important for various reasons. It marks a trend among private investment groups competing for acquisitions : one is not dealing only with competition among corporations within the sector, but rather with investment groups that simply rate the deal, they do not care about the business itself, only its profit potential. In that light, it is significant that Biomet is a business dedicated to the sale of medical prostheses, several of which stem from the use of bio-nanotechnology. Beyond whether these prostheses might help whoever needs them rather than cause new problems, in this context they indicate an industry trend to invest aggressively in "improving human performance", in other words, the definition by the industry of who can (who ought to?) be "improved", opening up a new gap between those who can pay and those who cannot.
Source:
zmag.org
Bookmark:
Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals
International survey supports need for built-in water protection on smartphones and tablets May 21st, 2013
Rice unveils method for tailoring optical processors: Arranging nanoparticles in geometric patterns allows for control of light with light May 21st, 2013
Protein 'Passport' Helps Nanoparticles Get Past Immune System May 20th, 2013
Nanoparticle Harnesses Powerful Radiation Therapy for Cancer May 20th, 2013
Human Interest/Art
Oh, Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree: A nano end for Christmas tree needles January 2nd, 2013
INIC Inks MoU to Apply Nanotechnology in Iran's Carpet Industry December 18th, 2012
IBN Welcomes Its First 9-Year-Old ‘Scientist’: IBN and Make-A-Wish Foundation Singapore Make Kidney Patient’s Dream Come True December 10th, 2012
The music of the silks: Researchers synthesize a new kind of silk fiber — and find that music can help fine-tune the material’s properties November 28th, 2012
Nanobiotechnology
Researchers Perform Fastest Measurements Ever Made of Ion Channel Proteins May 20th, 2013
Artificial Forest for Solar Water-Splitting: Berkeley Lab Researchers Report First Fully Integrated Artificial Photosynthesis Nanosystem May 17th, 2013
Glowing Plant Kickstarter Project Retains Digital Marketing Agency, Command Partners: Glowing Plant brings on top Charlotte-based digital marketing firm to assist in crowdfunding campaign May 16th, 2013
DNA-Guided Assembly Yields Novel Ribbon-Like Nanostructures: Approach could be useful in fabricating new kinds of materials with engineered properties May 16th, 2013