Home > News > Technology making a splash: Nanotechnology works on such a small scale it allows scientists to harness the precision of nature – the benefits are almost limitless. But, asks Penny Sarchet, what are the risks?
April 1st, 2012
Technology making a splash: Nanotechnology works on such a small scale it allows scientists to harness the precision of nature – the benefits are almost limitless. But, asks Penny Sarchet, what are the risks?
Abstract:
Nanotechnology is engineering of the very small, at dimensions we have never explored before. The 20th century was transformed by technology that worked on the level of one millionth of a metre, allowing us to study bacteria and metal crystals, and to invent jet engines and silicon microchips.
Nanotechnology works at a scale one thousand times smaller still. It is a new frontier for the 21st century.
"All the rules change," says Mark Miodownik, professor of materials and society at University College London. "Different physical laws dominate, ones we're not used to thinking about at our scale. Gravity is irrelevant and you don't have to worry about joining things together because they'll stick to each other naturally."
Source:
guardian.co.uk
Bookmark:
News and information
Nano-needles for cells May 25th, 2013
How do cold ions slide May 24th, 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
Nano-needles for cells May 25th, 2013
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
Quantum Computing
Harris & Harris Group Notes the Sale of a Second D-Wave Quantum Computer May 16th, 2013
Cold atoms for quantum technology May 12th, 2013
Flawed Diamonds Promise Sensory Perfection: Berkeley Lab researchers and their colleagues extend electron spin in diamond for incredibly tiny magnetic detectors May 10th, 2013
New magnetic graphene may revolutionize electronics May 10th, 2013
Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals
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
IDTechEx launches online Market Intelligence Portal May 23rd, 2013
Whirlpools on the Nanoscale Could Multiply Magnetic Memory: At the Advanced Light Source, Berkeley Lab scientists join an international team to control spin orientation in magnetic nanodisks May 22nd, 2013
UofL scientists uncover how grapefruits provide a secret weapon in medical drug delivery May 22nd, 2013
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
Artificial Intelligence
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
Combining Nanowires and Memristors Could Lead to Brain-like Computing April 4th, 2013
Jaan Tallinn named 2012 Lifeboat Foundation Guardian Award Winner December 13th, 2012
Let's Hope the Robots Are Nice: No need to learn Mandarin—your universal translator will do the job. And nanotechnology will build the thing. March 22nd, 2011
Printing/Lithography/Inkjet
IDTechEx launches online Market Intelligence Portal May 23rd, 2013
Rice unveils method for tailoring optical processors: Arranging nanoparticles in geometric patterns allows for control of light with light May 21st, 2013
NanoInk, Inc. Assets To Be Sold May 18th, 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