Nanotechnology in the News

Stephen Pincock, “Avoiding a Nanotech Backlash: United Kingdom Report Warns of GM-style Problems Unless a Wider Public Debate is Started,” The Scientist, September 1, 2004. This article summarizes one aspect of concern voiced in the report by Demos, a London-based think tank, in their new report on technologies and the societal and scientific debates that stem from them. (Full report).The article states that nanotechnology may suffer the same consequences of genetically modified food. Full article.

Juan de la Roca, “USA Partners With Israel To Fund Nanotech,” Small Times, August 30, 2004. The United States and Israel, through U.S. Israel Science and Technology Foundation (USISTF), have agreed to promote joint research in nanotechnology in an effort to bring nanotechnology to Israel. One aspect of the research will be focused on an integrated management system for the homeland security market. Critics voice concern over the lack of support from individual initiatives in the program. Full article.

Laura Allen, “A Limber Future: ‘Smart skin’ holds promise for morphing wings and wearable computers,” Popular Science, 36, August 2004. According to the article, NanoSonic of Blacksburg, Virginia, has created a nanocomposite metal that has properties of rubber. The substance can be bent, twisted, stretched, heated to 200 degrees centigrade, and will return to original form, all the while possessing great electrical conductivity. The ‘Metal Rubber’ is created through a process called electrostatic self-assembly. Full article.

Michael Kanellos, “Nanotech Funding To Grow to $8.6 Billion,” CNET News.com, August 15, 2004. Corporations, governments, universities and others will spend an estimated $8.6 billion on nanotechnology research and development in 2004, and a growing portion of the total comes from the private sector. The article outlines many of the industry’s statistics such as “Sixty-four percent of the 88,546 nanotechnology patents registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office since 1976 belong to U.S. entities.” Full article.

Phil Schewe and Ben Stein, “Protein-Based Nanoactuators,” The AIP Bulletin of Physic News, August 12, 2004. The researchers at Florida State University have created a way for controlling nanoactuators with thermoelectric signals. The researchers state that this could be used for gene delivery and bioanalysis chips. Full article.

Liz Brown, “Manmade Pores Open Possibilities,” BetterHumans.com, August 11, 2004. Virgil Percec and colleagues from University of Pennsylvania have created pores that can be used to filter single molecules from solutions, carry drugs into cells, and destroy harmful bacteria. Full article.

R. Colin Johnson, “Quantum Dots Poised For Production Line,” EE Times, August 10, 2004. This article describes the claims of researchers at the University of Buffalo that they have been able to create a process for mass producing quantum dots. The process works with a careful combination of chemicals at room temperature, based on a self-assembly technique. Full article.

“Speck Trios Make Secret Codes,” Technology Research News Online, August 11, 2004, it is reported that researchers from the Canadian National Research Council have devised a way to use quantum dots -- tiny bits of semiconductor -- to print invisible secret codes onto surfaces like documents. According to the report they use a coding process at the nanoscale involving light waves. Full article.

John Cook, "Venture Capital: Nanotech May Take Years to Hit it Big," Seattle Post Intelligencer, August 6, 2004. With Nanoysys' decision to pull out of an initial public offering of their stock, there is speculation that the market for nanotchnology may be softer than initially expected. Spending on nanotechnology research continues to grow, but it remains to be seen how much of this research will turn into the development of actual products. Full article.

Patricia Reaney, "Ultra-Small Nanotechnology Needs Regulation-Report," Reuters, July 29, 2004, London. This Reuters wire article summarizes the latest recommendations from Britain's Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering that the Nanotech field needs more research and regulation. Full article.

Reuters, "EU, CEOs Call for Nanotechnology Push," CNN online, June 29, 2004. On June 29, the European Union and technology companies reached a verdict that, in order to keep pace with the United States and Asian countries, Europe would have to invest 6 billion euros annually in research for nanotechnology. Full article.

PRNewswire, "Drug Discovery and Delivery Applications of Nanotechnology and Commercial Opportunities to be Featured at October Conference," Yahoo News, June 15, 2004. Conference on Nanotechnology addressing recent research and applications. Full article.