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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Nanogirl News<BR>February 8, 2004</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Nanotech spy eyes life inside the cell. In Prey,
Michael Crichton's tale of nanotech gone awry, a swarm of light-sensitive
nanoparticles swim through a human body, creating the ultimate medical imaging
system. In the real world, biochemists are hoping to go one step further,
deploying viruses as "nano-cameras" to get a unique picture of what goes on
inside living cells and a greater understanding of how viruses themselves work.
A team led by Bogdan Dragnea at Indiana University in Bloomington is exploiting
the ability of viruses laden with gold to break into cells, along with the viral
shell's own telltale response to laser light. Together these give an
unprecedented picture of the chemical and physical activity in cells. (New
Scientist 1/31/04) <A
href="http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994615">http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994615</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Nanostructure may be key to regeneration. A tiny
new scaffold that assembles itself inside the body could point the way to
regeneration of spinal cords and the ability to grow tissues ranging from bone
cartilage to blood vessels, scientists say. "This is a magic material," said one
of the scaffold's inventors, Northwestern University chemistry professor Samuel
Stupp, who reported the discovery last week in Science magazine. (Sunspot
1/26/04)<BR><A
href="http://www.sunspot.net/news/printedition/bal-te.scaffold26jan26,0,248678.story?coll=bal-pe-asection">http://www.sunspot.net/news/printedition/bal-te.scaffold26jan26,0,248678.story?coll=bal-pe-asection</A><BR>Also
see: <A
href="http://www.nature.com/nsu/040119/040119-13.html">http://www.nature.com/nsu/040119/040119-13.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>New pollution eating paint will clean the air. A
new form of paint that can absorb some of the noxious gases from vehicle
exhausts goes on sale across Europe next month. Its manufacturers hope it will
give architects and town planners a new weapon in the fight against pollution,
an article in New Scientist reports. The new product, Ecopaint, is designed to
absorb nitrogen oxides, one of the causes of respiratory problems and smog
production. Dr Robert McIntyre, of Millenium Chemicals who developed the paint,
says a typical 0.3 millimetre layer would be enough to last five years in a
heavily polluted city. (edie 2/6/04)<BR><A
href="http://www.edie.net/gf.cfm?L=left_frame.html&R=http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/8025.cfm">http://www.edie.net/gf.cfm?L=left_frame.html&R=http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/8025.cfm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Chemists Learn To Build Curved Structures With
Nanoscale Building Blocks. The natural world is full of curves and three
dimensions, but the ability to deliberately and rationally construct such
complex structures using nanoscale building blocks has eluded nanotechnologists
who are eager to add curved structures to their toolbox. Now a team of
Northwestern University chemists report they have discovered ways to construct
nanoscale building blocks that assemble into flat or curved structures with a
high level of predictability, depending on the architecture and composition of
the building blocks. The results are published in the Jan. 16 issue of the
journal Science.<BR>(ScienceDaily 1/19/04) <A
href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/01/040119082010.htm">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/01/040119082010.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(Written by Douglas Mulhall, author of "Our
Molecular Future." Incorporate disassembly into every self-assembled nanotech
product. There is a growing mantra in the nanotech community that molecular
nanotechnology (MNT) and its precursors will clean up the toxic mess left by
older technologies, then produce clean energy and materials to replace them. Yet
each time that I suggest building such features into nanotechnology from the
start, the reply is: “We’ve got other things to worry about such as how to build
the darn assembler and keep it militarily secured, and besides that it might be
hard to achieve such perfection with early versions.” This is disturbingly
reminiscent of “nuclear power will give us clean limitless energy, and don’t
worry, we’ll deal with the byproducts later because we’ll have the tools by
then.” However, we can avoid such risks from the start by using “self-regulating
assembly” and “disassembly.” (Smalltimes 2/6/04) <A
href="http://www.smalltimes.com/print_doc.cfm?doc_id=7382">http://www.smalltimes.com/print_doc.cfm?doc_id=7382</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Nano-scientist's dark secret. One of the most
brilliant scientific researchers of recent years stands accused of committing an
elaborate scientific fraud, fooling many eminent experts. In 2001, a team led by
Hendrik Schoen appeared to have invented the smallest organic transistor ever
made. <BR>(BBC 2/4/04) <A
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3459769.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3459769.stm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>National Nanotechnology Initiative Workshop on
Nano-electronics, photonics, and -magnets. A National Nanotechnology Initiative
Interagency Workshop on Nano-electronics, -photonics, and -magnetics, will be
held Feb. 11-13, 2004, at the Holiday Inn Arlington at Ballston, Arlington, VA.
Media are invited to attend this workshop where leading scientists and engineers
from government, academia and industry will exchange information, research
findings and ideas toward identifying needs and opportunities for applications
of nanostructured materials and devices. A draft agenda is available.
(EurekAlert 2/5/04) <A
href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-02/nnco-nni020504.php">http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-02/nnco-nni020504.php</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Elements 115 and 113 discovered in Dubna. A team of
Russian and American physicists that discovered elements 114 and 116 in 1998 and
2000 now believe they may have created two other superheavy elements - 113 and
115. If confirmed, these results would lend even more weight to the idea of an
"island of stability" at the edge of the periodic table (Y Oganessian et al.
2003 Phys. Rev. C 69 021601) (Physics Web 2/3/04) <A
href="http://www.physicsweb.org/article/news/8/2/1">http://www.physicsweb.org/article/news/8/2/1</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Electromagnets double up. Physicists in the US have
developed a new technique for making nanostructures that have both ferroelectric
and ferromagnetic properties. So-called ferroelectromagnetic materials could be
used to help convert electric energy into magnetic energy, and vice versa, in
devices such as transducers, sensors and actuators (H Zheng et al. 2004 Science
303 661). (Physics web 1/30/04) <A
href="http://physicsweb.org/article/news/8/1/15">http://physicsweb.org/article/news/8/1/15</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Functionalized C60 Peas in a Pod. Fullerene
derivatives are inserted into carbon nanotubes at low temperatures. Using
supercritical carbon dioxide, scientists in England have inserted fullerene
molecules with exterior organic functional groups into single-walled carbon
nanotubes (SWNTs). The team also showed that encapsulation of the functionalized
fullerenes can be enhanced or inhibited by altering the functional group.
(C&E 1/26/04) <A
href="http://pubs.acs.org/cen/topstory/8204/8204notw4.html">http://pubs.acs.org/cen/topstory/8204/8204notw4.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>‘Centipedes’ could lead to nano-Velcro. Scientists
from the University of Michigan and Purdue University in the US, and the
University of Vigo in Spain, have made “bristled nano-centipedes”. The
structures consist of a bristled silica coating on a cadmium tellurium (CdTe)
nanowire core. “We were initially dumbfounded by the formation of the
centipedes,” Nick Kotov of the University of Michigan told nanotechweb.org. “The
topology of the nanowires is very interesting - it could be exceptionally useful
for the design of optically active and remarkably strong nanocomposites, due to
the ‘Velcro’ effect.” (nanotechweb 1/21/04) <A
href="http://nanotechweb.org/articles/news/3/1/5/1">http://nanotechweb.org/articles/news/3/1/5/1</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(Glenn Harlan Reynolds) The Nano-Ostrich Approach
Doesn't Work. Ostriches don't really bury their heads in the sand when
confronted with danger. People, however, sometimes do. Certainly that seems to
be what's happening with the nanotechnology industry. Last week, I wrote about
prospects for nanotechnology, and in particular about what I saw as the
nanotechnology business community's rather shortsighted efforts to dampen public
debate on the subject. I thought it was rather clear that my column, like all my
nanotechnology writings, came from a generally pro-nanotechnology standpoint,
though I concluded: [W]hile I feel a certain degree of sympathy for the
dinosaurs, I think that if the nanotechnology business community, because of the
PR strategy that it has chosen, finds itself scissored between the scientists
and visionaries on one side, and the environmentalists on the other, it will
have cause to regret its rather shortsighted PR strategy. It's too early to
predict that outcome now. But, like a lot of things relating to nanotechnology,
it's not too early to worry about it. In fact, it wasn't very much too soon at
all -- because if you read this Washington Post article by Rick Weiss, which
appeared just a few days after my column, you can see exactly that scissoring
starting to take place. The article, which is well worth reading (as is this
sidebar on near-term applications), shows the industry being criticized not only
by environmental groups, but by long-time nanotechnology boosters. And, in fact,
it suggests that Monsanto's problems with public fears regarding its genetically
modified organisms are a harbinger of what might happen with regard to
nanotechnology. (TCS 2/4/04) <A
href="http://www.techcentralstation.com/020504C.html">http://www.techcentralstation.com/020504C.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Paper warns of 'Nano-divide' between have and
have-not countries. The chasm between have and have-not countries will grow even
wider if nanotechnology research is upended by the unbalanced positions of
high-profile opponents like Prince Charles, warns a new analysis from a leading
global medical ethics think-tank. Nanotechnology is the building of working
devices, systems and materials molecule by molecule by manipulating matter
measured in billionths of a meter. The research seeks to exploit the unique and
powerful electrical, physical and chemical properties found at an
infinitesimally small scale. While legitimate risks and issues have been
flagged, they can and should be addressed without a crippling moratorium being
called for on budding research that promises vast improvement in the lives of
five billion people in developing countries, according to medical ethics experts
at the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics. (nanotechwire 1/28/04)
<A
href="http://nanotechwire.com/news.asp?nid=675">http://nanotechwire.com/news.asp?nid=675</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Asian-Pacific Governments Invest in Nano Labs and
Research Centers. A number of new research parks have opened in the Asia-Pacific
region in the past few months, illustrating an increased level of commitment by
local governments toward investment in nanotechnology and related fields.
<BR>(Smalltimes 1/22/04) <A
href="http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=7269">http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=7269</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Nano not terrifying. American scientists said
recently the application of nanotechnology could affect human health as
nanometer scale particles can easily penetrate the human body and may cause
diseases. Meanwhile Chinese scientists say this negative aspect of
nanotechnology should not be exaggerated...Dr. Jiang Lei, with the Chinese
Academy of Sciences, has been engaged in the research of nanotechnology for
years. He says the test result is one-sided. "Nano particles do exist and can
easily penetrate into the respiratory tract and skin of human beings. But there
is also a question of quantity. How many such particles could affect human
health? At the present no scientists anywhere are able to answer this." Dr.
Jiang Lei also tells us how to protect ourselves in nano research. "In the
course of research, we can try our best to avoid the presence of nano-scale
objects in particle form. However in the liquid or solid states they are unable
to penetrate human bodies." (1/14/03) <A
href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-01/14/content_1275787.htm">http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-01/14/content_1275787.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology 'Plans
Ahead'. On Jan. 21-26, 2004, the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN)
posted a six-page article entitled "Responsible Nanotechnology."The article
describes eight scenarios for the future of mankind in connection with molecular
nanotechnology, including molecular nano assemblers, capable of destroying enemy
means of nuclear retaliation and thus circumventing Mutual Assured Destruction,
on which the peace between the three nuclear powers (the USA, Russia and China)
has rested. (2/6/04)<BR><A
href="http://newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/2/5/182324.shtml">http://newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/2/5/182324.shtml</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Nanotechnology is area giant. Here's one of the
"Look Ma, no hands" perks of owning a stain-repellent shirt: Fill up the pocket
with water and watch it hold the liquid like a cup, without any leakage. "All
you need is a straw," quipped David Offord, chief scientific officer at
Nano-Tex, the start-up that developed the technology, during a demonstration.
Naturally, the regular marketed advantages of owning stain- and liquid-repellent
clothing come in handy, too. Enhanced through nanotechnology, the material
allows even the clumsiest person who dribbles ketchup or spills coffee to wipe
it off as easily as brushing off cookie crumbs. Here in the East Bay,
nanotechnology has become the fabric of our lives. (ContraCostaTimes 2/1/04) <A
href="http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/business/7849397.htm">http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/business/7849397.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(65nm Chips discussion). Semiconductor companies
are becoming increasingly confident about making 65 nanometer chips. Some are
even stating that the 90 nm to 65 nm transition will be easier than the 130 nm
to 90 nm shift. Many of the technical problems associated with 65 nm chip
production have been solved, and Intel has already demonstrated 65 nanometer
SRAM chips. Intel will probably create the first prototype 65 nanometer
microprocessors sometime in 2004, and hopes to have volume production of 65
nanometer chips by 2005. 65 nanometer chips will be made with 193 nanometer
lithography, and will suffer from severe electrical leakage issues. As a result,
chipmakers are making a concerted effort to introduce multi-gate transistors at
the 65 nanometer node.<BR>(Geek.com 2/6/04) <A
href="http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2004Feb/bch20040206023770.htm">http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2004Feb/bch20040206023770.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Reverse-direction Movement of a Molecular Motor.
German scientists mastermind a backwards-moving molecular motor. In a new study,
which appears in the Feb. 5 issue of Nature, researchers based at Hannover
Medical School and the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Germany
describe the engineering of an artificial backwards-moving myosin from three
pre-existing molecular building blocks. (MaxPlanck Society 2/4/04) HTML: <A
href="http://www.mpg.de/english/illustrationsDocumentation/documentation/pressReleases/2004/pressRelease20040203/index.html">http://www.mpg.de/english/illustrationsDocumentation/documentation/pressReleases/2004/pressRelease20040203/index.html</A><BR>PDF:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.mpg.de/english/illustrationsDocumentation/documentation/pressReleases/2004/pressRelease20040203/genPDF.pdf">http://www.mpg.de/english/illustrationsDocumentation/documentation/pressReleases/2004/pressRelease20040203/</FONT><FONT
face=Arial size=2>genPDF.pdf</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Weighed in the nanoscale. It’s no longer ‘scary
science’ in tomorrow’s world. With decisions looming on our nanotech future,
Vidhya Alakeson and Tim Aldrich look at how to win public engagement. They’re
coming – big time. Heavyweight reports with nanotechnology in their titles are
hitting our bookshelves with increasing frequency. Since the last Green Futures
article on this little understood technology of the seriously small [GF34],
we’ve a pile of studies by everyone from the ETC Group and Greenpeace to the
Economic and Social Research Council and the Better Regulation Taskforce. (Green
Futures 2/7/04) <A
href="http://www.greenfutures.org.uk/features/default.asp?id=1723">http://www.greenfutures.org.uk/features/default.asp?id=1723</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Virtual Nanotech. Modeling materials one atom at a
time. It's hard enough to thread a needle. Imagine trying to manipulate threads
and needles miniaturized to one-millionth the normal size. Now, you're thinking
like the emerging group of nanotechnologists whose growing dexterity at
fashioning new materials and devices may eventually improve every arena of
technology, from aerospace to drug development. While many researchers focus on
developing tools for working on nanoscale materials, others are pursuing a
virtual pathway toward nanotechnology applications. As ever-more powerful
computers have become ever more affordable, computational nanoscientists can
readily simulate materials atom by atom. (ScienceNews 2/7/04) <A
href="http://www.sciencenews.org/20040207/bob8.asp">http://www.sciencenews.org/20040207/bob8.asp</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Gina "Nanogirl"
Miller<BR>Nanotechnology Industries<BR></FONT><A
href="http://www.nanoindustries.com"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>http://www.nanoindustries.com</FONT></A><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Personal: </FONT><A href="http://www.nanogirl.com"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>http://www.nanogirl.com</FONT></A><BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Foresight Senior Associate </FONT><A
href="http://www.foresight.org"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>http://www.foresight.org</FONT></A><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Nanotechnology Advisor Extropy Institute </FONT><A
href="http://www.extropy.org"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>http://www.extropy.org</FONT></A><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Tech-Aid Advisor </FONT><A
href="http://www.tech-aid.info/t/all-about.html"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>http://www.tech-aid.info/t/all-about.html</FONT></A><BR><A
href="mailto:nanogirl@halcyon.com"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>nanogirl@halcyon.com</FONT></A><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>"Nanotechnology: Solutions for the
future."</FONT><BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>