Nanotechnology Now

• About Us
  
  • Advertising
  • Our Mission
  • Our Team
  • Comments
  • Friends
  • Contact
• Nanotechnology
• News
  
  • Current News
  • Press Releases
  • Submit Press
  • Press kit
  • Interviews
• Columns
• Products
  
  • Our Products
  • Books
  • Featured Books
• Directories
  
  • Companies/Academic
  • Events
  • Glossary
  • Best Of
• Career Center
• Nano-Social Network
• Nano Consulting
• My Account

Home > News > Trillionth Floor, Please: UConn Research Could Help Build Elevator To Space

September 8th, 2008

Trillionth Floor, Please: UConn Research Could Help Build Elevator To Space

Abstract:
An elevator that leads into space might sound farfetched, but scientists have been seriously considering it for years — and work at the University of Connecticut could end up being a key part of it actually happening.

UConn chemistry professor Fotios Papadimitrakopoulos, 43, believes he and his team of researchers have found a way to harness the potential of nanotubes — an extremely strong material made from carbon molecules. Their work was recently published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. Sang-Yong Ju, a doctoral candidate in polymer science, is the lead author.

If the West Hartford resident is right about the potential of their work, it could lead to practical applications for everything from new drug delivery systems to better tennis rackets.

And, yes, a space elevator. It's an idea that's been around for more than a century, but never seriously considered until recent breakthroughs in nanotube technology.

It's pretty much what it sounds like. The most commonly touted vision of the space elevator involves a paper-thin ribbon made from carbon nanotubes that brings carrier cars thousands of miles into orbit. The ribbon would be tethered to the Earth's surface, while a counterweight at the other end — a space station, perhaps — would float in orbit. The centrifugal force from the Earth's rotation would keep the line taut.

Source:
courant.com

Bookmark:

Related News Press

News and information

How do cold ions slide May 24th, 2013

Heinrich Rohrer dies at 79; a father of nanotechnology: With IBM colleague Gerd Binnig, Rohrer invented the scanning tunneling microscope, which can show individual atoms on a surface and move them around May 23rd, 2013

Gold nanocrystal vibration captured on billion-frames-per-second film May 23rd, 2013

Glowing Plant Releases Maker Kit, Enabling Anyone to Make a Glowing Plant at Home: Glowing Plant seeks funds via crowdfunding and raises almost $400,000 May 23rd, 2013

Possible Futures

Lifeboat publishes its first book: The Lifeboat Foundation has published its first book, "The Human Race to the Future: What Could Happen -- and What to Do" May 14th, 2013

UC Santa Barbara History Professor's Book Elucidates, Celebrates ‘Visioneers' May 14th, 2013

Conceptual Nanomedical Lipofuscin Removal Strategy April 29th, 2013

The Global Desalination Market 2013-2023 April 24th, 2013

Nanomedicine

UofL scientists uncover how grapefruits provide a secret weapon in medical drug delivery May 22nd, 2013

Single-Cell Transfection Tool Enables Added Control for Biological Studies: McCormick researchers develop method of delivering molecules into targeted cells May 22nd, 2013

How Gold Nanoparticles Can Help Fight Ovarian Cancer May 21st, 2013

MU Researchers Develop Radioactive Nanoparticles that Target Cancer Cells: This is an early step toward developing therapies for metastasized cancers, MU scientist says May 21st, 2013

Announcements

How do cold ions slide May 24th, 2013

Heinrich Rohrer dies at 79; a father of nanotechnology: With IBM colleague Gerd Binnig, Rohrer invented the scanning tunneling microscope, which can show individual atoms on a surface and move them around May 23rd, 2013

Gold nanocrystal vibration captured on billion-frames-per-second film May 23rd, 2013

Glowing Plant Releases Maker Kit, Enabling Anyone to Make a Glowing Plant at Home: Glowing Plant seeks funds via crowdfunding and raises almost $400,000 May 23rd, 2013

Sports

UNL team's discovery yields supertough, strong nanofibers April 24th, 2013

Graphene Could Help Prevent Another Lance Armstrong January 15th, 2013

Nanoscale impulse radar measures depth of snow and ice December 18th, 2012

Research and Markets: The Global Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials Industry 2013 Report: Stage of Development, Global Activity and Market Opportunities December 16th, 2012

Aerospace/Space

Moth-Inspired Nanostructures Take the Color Out of Thin Films May 17th, 2013

Lifeboat publishes its first book: The Lifeboat Foundation has published its first book, "The Human Race to the Future: What Could Happen -- and What to Do" May 14th, 2013

UC Santa Barbara History Professor's Book Elucidates, Celebrates ‘Visioneers' May 14th, 2013

Over 20 Exhibitors To Present At International Space Development Conference May 13th, 2013

	The latest news from around the world, FREE

Premium Products
	Only the news you want to read!  Learn More
	University Technology Transfer & Patents  Learn More
	Full-service, expert consulting  Learn More

Nanotechnology Now Featured Books