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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#800080 size=2><EM><STRONG>The Nanogirl
News</STRONG></EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>October 31, 2004</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Reconstructing Neural Circuits in 3D, Nanometer by
Nanometer. The authors' custom-designed microtome holds the tissue block in a
way that ensures image alignment and maintains focus; all the while the specimen
surface is positioned close enough to the objective lens to allow
high-resolution imaging. Denk and Horstmann expect that with this method they
might ultimately be able to cut sections thinner than the 50 nanometers that
their current setup manages. This then would allow them to cut sections even
thinner than what is routinely possible in conventional transmission electron
microscopy. While the authors doubt that the lateral resolution will ever reach
that of transmission electron microscopy, they also argue that such high
resolution may not actually be needed to trace neuronal connectivity. On the
other hand, the method accelerates 3D electron microscopic data collection “by
several orders of magnitude” by obviating the need for the labor-intensive
adjustments to correct alignment and distortion required by other methods, an
advance that is crucial for large-volume neuroanatomy and might, in addition,
open up many hitherto inaccessible problems to ultra-structural investigations.
(Plosbiology November 04)<BR><A
href="http://www.plosbiology.org/plosonline/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0020388">http://www.plosbiology.org/plosonline/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0020388</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced today
at a media briefing a new $144.3 million, five-year initiative to develop and
apply nanotechnology to cancer. Nanotechnology, the development and engineering
of devices so small that they are measured on a molecular scale, has already
demonstrated promising results in cancer research and treatment. "Nanotechnology
has the potential to radically increase our options for prevention, diagnosis,
and treatment of cancer," said Andrew von Eschenbach, M.D., director of the
National Cancer Institute. "NCI's commitment to this cancer initiative comes at
a critical time. Nanotechnology supports and expands the scientific advances in
genomics and proteomics and builds on our understanding of the molecular
underpinnings of cancer. These are the pillars which will support progress in
cancer." (Medicalnewstoday 10/13/04)<BR><A
href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=14905">http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=14905</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>CRN Announces the Wise-Nano Project. The Center for
Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN) has initiated the Wise-Nano project, a
collaborative online effort to study the facts and implications of advanced
nanotechnology. Wise-Nano.org is a website for researchers worldwide to work
together, helping to build an understanding of the technologies, their effects,
and what to do about them. (PRWEB Oct 16, 2004) <A
href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/10/prwebxml168143.php">http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/10/prwebxml168143.php</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Tumbleweeds in the Bloodstream. Molecule-size
sensors inside astronauts' cells could warn of health impacts from space
radiation. Wouldn't it be nice if the cells in your body would simply tell you
when you're starting to get sick, long before symptoms appear? Or alert you when
a tumor is growing, while it's still microscopic and harmless? The ability to
detect changes inside of individual cells while those cells are still inside
your body would be a boon to medicine. NASA-supported scientists are developing
a technology right now that could, if it works, do exactly that. (Yubanet
10/30/04) <A
href="http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_14835.shtml">http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_14835.shtml</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>New Study: Nanotechnology Poised to Revolutionize
Tech, Manufacturing Markets; Market Will Rival Sales Volume of Combined Tech and
Telecom Markets. Sales of products incorporating nanotechnology will total $2.6
trillion in 10 years, approximately one-fifth of the current Gross Domestic
Product (GDP (news - web sites)), greatly exceeding previous estimates,
according to a new report released by a leading Wall Street financial analyst.
Nano- enhanced products will account for 50 percent of all electronics and
information technology products and 16 percent of all healthcare products by
2014, according to the report. (U.S. Newswire 10/29/04)<BR><A
href="http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=39155">http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=39155</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It's time for an alternative fuel. The era of human
development with oil and gas as energy source is nearing its end and in the next
30-40 years, there will be a 'clean break' to produce energy from renewable,
non-fossil fuels, mostly from hydrogen. The rise in global temperature due to
emission of green house gases will force man to seek alternatives so that life
is viable on earth, M S Srinivasan, additional secretary, Union Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas, said today... 'By combining nanotechnology
manipulating subatomic particles for new products and hydrogen for alternative
fuel, a way can be found on how to store hydrogen and discharge into the usage
system,' he said. (Regionalfare 10/30/04) <A
href="http://newstodaynet.com/30oct/rf14.htm">http://newstodaynet.com/30oct/rf14.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>DuPont Becomes Founding Sponsor of International
Council on Nanotechnology. The Center for Biological and Environmental
Nanotechnology (CBEN) at Rice University in Houston, Texas, recently announced
the formation of the International Council on Nanotechnology (ICON). The ICON is
a collaboration among academic, industry, regulatory and non-governmental
interest groups that will work to assess, communicate, and reduce potential
environmental and health risks associated with nanotechnology. (A2Znano
10/29/04) <A
href="http://www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=387">http://www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=387</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(Book) Inner Limits A novel by Frank John
Ingersoll. An Eye-Opening Glimpse Into An Immediate Future. Is it possible that
man might recreate himself without flaws? Medicine, Science, technology and
religion are all racing towards the prize in mankind’s quest to attain
perfection. The novel, Inner Limits explores the possibilities that
realistically, now appear to be within our grasp...Nanotechnology is creating
nanomachines that are so small that 2-billion of them can fit on the point of a
needle. Can they be programmed to rid a body of cancer, rebuild cartilage in a
knee, help you loose weight or improve your sex life? Can Nanotechnology also be
programmed to get rid of all evil or create evil? Can it overcome Satan’s power
over so many? Can man program over God’s plan for you? (Christian Magazine
Online 10/29/04) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.saworship.com/article-page.php?ID=1557&Page=couples.php">http://www.saworship.com/article-page.php?ID=1557&Page=couples.php</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Drug-dispensing Contact Lens Developed. Could treat
eye diseases better than drops. Drug-loaded contact lenses have been developed
that could treat eye conditions such as glaucoma far more effectively than
drops. Usually sufferers of glaucoma and many other eye conditions are
prescribed eye drops. These can mix with tears, however, and drain into the nose
where they enter the bloodstream and cause side-effects. As well, drops are
inconsistent and difficult to regulate. Researchers from the Institute of
Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) in Singapore recognized this problem and
have created a contact lens material that can deliver drug treatments directly
into the eye. (Betterhumans 10/29/04) <A
href="http://www.betterhumans.com/News/news.aspx?articleID=2004-10-29-3">http://www.betterhumans.com/News/news.aspx?articleID=2004-10-29-3</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Nanodevices target viruses. Physicists are used to
detecting inanimate objects like photons and particles but two teams of
researchers in the US have now turned their attention to very different targets
-- viruses. Harold Craighead and colleagues at Cornell University used a
nanoelectromechanical device to detect an insect baculovirus, while Charles
Lieber and co-workers at Harvard University employed a nanowire field-effect
transistor to detect single influenza viruses. The new methods could be scaled
up for applications in medicine or the detection of biological weapons.
(Physicsweb 10/8/04) <A
href="http://physicsweb.org/articles/news/8/10/6/1">http://physicsweb.org/articles/news/8/10/6/1</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Total of $80,000 Awarded to Eight Promising
Nanotechnology Ideas. QD Vision, Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., was awarded the top
prize today in the first International Nanotechnology Business Idea Competition
for its idea to produce the next generation of flat panel displays. The startup
company received $50,000 in cash, plus business plan writing assistance and
additional business advisory services."We couldn't be happier," said Greg
Moeller, vice president of sales and marketing for the company. "Winning this
competition is going to allow us to secure the intellectual property [behind the
company's flat panel displays]."..Judges from the ranks of nanotechnology
research, venture capital and business reviewed entries from 14 states and four
countries. Twenty-five teams were selected to participate in a semifinal round
of judging, which took place Thursday, October 28. Eight teams competed in
today's finals at Case. (PR Newswire 10/29/04)<BR><A
href="http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/10-29-2004/0002317805&EDATE">http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/10-29-2004/0002317805&EDATE</A>=</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>UCLA Chemists Report New Nano Phenomenon: Welding
in Response to an Ordinary Camera Flash. UCLA chemists report the discovery of a
remarkable new nanoscale phenomenon: An ordinary camera flash causes the
instantaneous welding together of nanofibers made of polyaniline, a unique
synthetic polymer that can be made in either a conducting or an insulating form.
The discovery, which the chemists call "flash welding," is published in the
November issue of the journal Nature Materials..."I was very surprised," Kaner
said. "My graduate student, Jiaxing Huang, decided to take some pictures of his
polyaniline nanofibers one evening when he heard a distinct popping sound and
smelled burning plastic. Jiaxing recalled a paper that we had discussed during a
group meeting reporting that carbon nanotubes burned up in response to a camera
flash. By adjusting the distance of the camera flash to his material, he was
able to produce smooth films with no burning, making this new discovery
potentially useful." (UCLA 10/28/04) <A
href="http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=5602">http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=5602</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>ASU Biodesign Researcher to Explore Revolutionary
Gene Sequencing: Threading the Molecular Needle. A radical new method of DNA
sequencing currently being explored by Stuart Lindsay, Director of the Center
for Single Molecule Biophysics in the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State
University and Professor of Physics at ASU, could make the long-dreamt-of
era of true genetic medicine possible with extremely rapid, accurate and low
cost sequencing of single DNA molecules...Lindsay’s new sequencing technology
involves using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), which is customarily used to
analyze the surface structure of materials at molecular resolution with the
ultra-small tip of a sensitive probe, in combination with naturally
occurring ring-shaped sugar molecules called cyclodextrins. Lindsay believes
that the ring molecules, when paired with the AFM probe tip, can effectively be
used as sensors to “read” the sequence of amino acid code (DNA “bases”) in the
human genome that comprises many millions of bases. (ASU 10/29/04) <A
href="http://www.asu.edu/asunews/research/lindsay_sequencing_102904.htm">http://www.asu.edu/asunews/research/lindsay_sequencing_102904.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Researchers watch water inside nanotubes.
Researchers from Drexel University, US, the University of Illinois at Chicago,
US, and the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan have filled closed
multiwalled carbon nanotubes between just 2 and 5 nm in diameter with water. The
team says its work is of fundamental importance for understanding liquid
behavior at the nanoscale.<BR>(nanotechweb 10/27/04) <A
href="http://nanotechweb.org/articles/news/3/10/19/1">http://nanotechweb.org/articles/news/3/10/19/1</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>UK government report warns of potential
nanotechnology risks. A report by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive has
concluded that the safety of the tiny particles created by the emerging
nanotechnology industry has not been fully assessed. (Drugresearcher
10/28/04)<BR><A
href="http://www.drugresearcher.com/news/news-ng.asp?n=55715-uk-government-report">http://www.drugresearcher.com/news/news-ng.asp?n=55715-uk-government-report</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A Nanowire with a Surprise. New research may
advance the nanoelectronics field. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s
Brookhaven National Laboratory and their collaborators have discovered that a
short, organic chain molecule with dimensions on the order of a nanometer (a
billionth of a meter) conducts electrons in a surprising way: It regulates the
electrons’ speed erratically, without a predictable dependence on the length of
the wire. This information may help scientists learn how to use nanowires to
create components for a new class of tiny electronic circuits. (Brookhaven
10/18/04) <A
href="http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/pubaf/pr/PR_display.asp?prID=04-92">http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/pubaf/pr/PR_display.asp?prID=04-92</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Report: Nano-product sales to $2.6 trillion by
2014. Global sales of products incorporating nanoscale technologies could rise
to more than $2.6 trillion in 2014, according to a new industry report. Lux
Research Inc.'s "Sizing Nanotechnology's Value Chain" predicts that
revenues from products incorporating nano-based approaches will total $13
billion, $8.5 billion of which lies in automotive and aerospace applications.
Most are high-end uses, and the amount represents about 0.1 percent of the
global manufacturing output. (Smalltimes 10/28/04)<BR><A
href="http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?section_id=51&document_id=8403">http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?section_id=51&document_id=8403</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(PDF document) Research News from the MRS Bulletin:
Silica-coated SWNTs form unique nanostructures; Novel liquid-crystal phases
formed with introduction of chirality; High-strength reticulated porous
ceramics; Cracks in rubber propagate faster than the speed of sound;
F-containing molecules serve as structure-directing agentsin synthesis of
molecular sieves; Flame-spraying technique yields aluminate bulk glasses and
nanoceramics; Composite polymer-carbon nanotubes function as optoelectronic
memory devices (MRS October 04) <A
href="http://www.mrs.org/publications/bulletin/2004/oct/oct04_researchers.pdf">http://www.mrs.org/publications/bulletin/2004/oct/oct04_researchers.pdf</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Taiwan on cusp of nanotech rewards. >From the
harvesting of rice to the harnessing of nano products, Taiwan's skill based
industries are expected to utilize this new-found scientific breakthrough. Long
Qiang Nano Technology Corporation and Taiwan textile Research Institute (TTRI)
announced their joint venture in exploring and planning more nano-based
applications yesterday in Taipei County.<BR>(The China Post 10/30/04) <A
href="http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/detail.asp?GRP=E&id=53922">http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/detail.asp?GRP=E&id=53922</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Nanotech group's invitations declined. A new effort
by industry leaders and others to engender public trust in nanotechnology, the
young science of making invisibly small materials, has run into difficulties on
the eve of its first meeting after environmental and citizen groups declined to
join for now because of doubts the initiative will serve the public interest.
None of the three invited representatives of environmental groups has agreed to
join the newly created International Council on Nanotechnology at its inaugural
meeting in Houston today. <BR>(The Smalltimes 10/28/04) <A
href="http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=8401">http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=8401</A><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Happy Halloween!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Gina "Nanogirl" Miller<BR>Nanotechnology
Industries<BR><A
href="http://www.nanoindustries.com">http://www.nanoindustries.com</A><BR>Personal:
<A
href="http://www.nanogirl.com/index2.html">http://www.nanogirl.com/index2.html</A><BR>Foresight
Senior Associate <A
href="http://www.foresight.org">http://www.foresight.org</A><BR>Nanotechnology
Advisor Extropy Institute <A
href="http://www.extropy.org">http://www.extropy.org</A><BR><FONT
color=#ff00ff><EM><STRONG>My New Project:</STRONG></EM></FONT> Microscope
Jewelry<BR><A
href="http://www.nanogirl.com/crafts/microjewelry.htm">http://www.nanogirl.com/crafts/microjewelry.htm</A><BR>Email:
<A
href="mailto:nanogirl@halcyon.com">nanogirl@halcyon.com</A><BR>"Nanotechnology:
Solutions for the future."<BR></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>