Home > News > irishtimes.com
November 27th, 2009
irishtimes.com
Abstract:
At the "nano" level - where particles have at least one dimension of less than 100 nanometres - materials can often behave differently than their bulk counterparts, opening up new opportunities for improving medicine, electronics and a swathe of consumer products. But it also presents a need to monitor safety closely.
With such a disruptive technology, it's hardly surprising that ethical questions arise, and they are engagingly discussed in a new book, Nanoethics - Big Ethical Issues with Small Technology by Dr Dónal O'Mathúna.
"We have literally a small technology in our hands and we have a lot of human decisions about where we are going to take this. Where we need to focus our attention now is in these areas - and they are not unique to nanotechnology; they are getting back at those value systems that are driving all our social development," says O'Mathúna, a senior lecturer in ethics, decision-making and evidence at Dublin City University. "There's a huge amount of funding and investment and academic and industrial interest in the area, yet very low attention and general awareness on the public's level of what is happening here."
Source:
irishtimes.com
Bookmark:
News and information
SEMATECH to Address Critical Supply Chain Challenges and Present Latest Technology Advances at SEMICON West 2013 June 17th, 2013
An Innovative material for the Green Earth: Simple and inexpensive process to make a material for CO2 adsorption June 17th, 2013
Polymer-coated catalyst protects "artificial leaf" June 17th, 2013
Efficient and inexpensive: Researchers develop catalyst material for fuel cells: Platinum-nickel nano-octahedra save 90 percent platinum June 17th, 2013
Ethics
NIA Public Briefing: Nanotechnology and the Council of Europe May 17th, 2013
New approach to testing health, environmental effects of nanoparticles April 8th, 2013
NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Releases Audit That Determines Fuller Road Management Corporation is Safeguarding Public Funds: Report concludes that FRMC fosters ethical business climate in supporting growth at NanoCollege January 26th, 2013
Notre Dame study explores the potential benefits and threats of nanotechnology research January 25th, 2013
Preparing for Nano
Durnham University's DEEPEN project comes to a close September 26th, 2012
Technical Seminar at ANFoS 2012 August 22nd, 2012
Nanotechnology shows we can innovate without economic growth April 12th, 2012
Thailand to host NanoThailand 2012 December 18th, 2011
Govt.-Legislation/Regulation/Funding/Policy
Working backward: Computer-aided design of zeolite templates: Rice scientists apply drug-design lessons to production of industrial minerals June 17th, 2013
An Innovative material for the Green Earth: Simple and inexpensive process to make a material for CO2 adsorption June 17th, 2013
Nanoparticle Opens the Door to Clean-Energy Alternatives June 14th, 2013
Discovery of new material state counterintuitive to laws of physics June 14th, 2013
Possible Futures
Space Solar Power: Key to a Livable Planet Earth June 10th, 2013
Global Nanotechnology Drug Delivery Market 2012-2016 June 10th, 2013
Nanorobot tetanus treatment animation June 9th, 2013
New horizons to drive the future of Medicine: European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine intends to lead the domain June 8th, 2013
Nanomedicine
European Technology Platform for Nanomedicine and Nanomed2020 European Consortium Launch the Nanomedicine Award June 17th, 2013
Dr. Ben J. Lipps designated as Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Executive Officer of Nanostart-holding MagForce AG June 17th, 2013
Iranian Scientists Produce Dynamometer for Nanoparticles, Biocells June 15th, 2013
Discovery of new material state counterintuitive to laws of physics June 14th, 2013
Nanoelectronics
Imec shows multiple enhancement options for next-generation FinFETs: Leading nano-electronics R&D center addresses key challenges of Germanium finFET technology at VLSI 2013 June 14th, 2013
Controlling magnetic clouds in graphene June 14th, 2013
Spot-welding graphene nanoribbons atom by atom June 13th, 2013
World's first large(wafer)-scale production of III-V semiconductor nanowire June 10th, 2013
Announcements
An Innovative material for the Green Earth: Simple and inexpensive process to make a material for CO2 adsorption June 17th, 2013
Polymer-coated catalyst protects "artificial leaf" June 17th, 2013
Efficient and inexpensive: Researchers develop catalyst material for fuel cells: Platinum-nickel nano-octahedra save 90 percent platinum June 17th, 2013
AXEON Acquires Assets of Leading Reverse Osmosis Systems Manufacturer June 17th, 2013
Water
AXEON Acquires Assets of Leading Reverse Osmosis Systems Manufacturer June 17th, 2013
Nanoparticle Opens the Door to Clean-Energy Alternatives June 14th, 2013
Discovery of new material state counterintuitive to laws of physics June 14th, 2013
Filmmaking magic with polymers June 12th, 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
Textiles/Clothing
Iran Applying Nanotechnology in Growing Number of Industries June 9th, 2013
Nanoadsorbent Synthesized to Remove Toxic Dyes from Textile Industry Wastewater May 16th, 2013
Miller Sports Aspen Brings European Fashion to Aspen With Designer Ski Wear with Goldwin and Toni Sailer May 3rd, 2013
Revolutionary new device joins world of smart electronics: Unique properties of graphene and graph Exeter combine to create a new flexible, transparent, photosensitive device April 19th, 2013
Personal Care
Lorraine University uses Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis to characterize biomolecules for agrichemicals, pharmacology and cosmetics May 28th, 2013
New synthesis method produces nanoparticles in high quantities February 25th, 2013
Harris & Harris Group Notes Solazyme and Mitsui Multi-Year Agreement February 7th, 2013
X-rays reveal uptake of nanoparticles by soya bean crops: Metals contained in nanoparticles can enter into the food chain February 6th, 2013
Safety-Nanoparticles/Risk management
Further research on effects of nanomaterials: BASF participates in BMBF research project on safety of nanomaterials: Results allow easier and faster evaluation of nanoparticle behavior June 12th, 2013
Conference Scheduled June 5-7 on Safe Use of Nanotechnology in Environmental Remediation May 23rd, 2013
NIA Public Briefing: Nanotechnology and the Council of Europe May 17th, 2013
Squishy hydrogels may be the ticket for studying biological effects of nanoparticles May 15th, 2013
Nanobiotechnology
Iranian Scientists Produce Dynamometer for Nanoparticles, Biocells June 15th, 2013
Shape of nanoparticles points the way toward more targeted drugs: A collaboration of scientists at Sanford-Burnham and the University of California, Santa Barbara, finds that rod-shaped particles, rather than spherical particles, appear more effective at adhering to cells June 10th, 2013
Catching individual molecules in a million with optical antennas inside nano-boxes June 10th, 2013
Whispering light hears liquids talk: University of Illinois researchers build first-ever bridge between optomechanics and microfluidics June 7th, 2013