NanoWiki, tracking nanotechnology

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A coordination action on graphene will be funded by the European Commission to develop plans for a 10-year, 1,000 million euro FET flagship. This is ''an ambitious, large-scale visionary research initiative, aiming at a breakthrough for technological innovation and economic exploitation based on graphene and related two-dimensional materials''.

Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, may be the most amazing and versatile substance available to mankind. Stronger than diamond, yet lightweight and flexible, graphene enables electrons to flow much faster than silicon. It is also a transparent conductor, combining electrical and optical functionalities in an exceptional way.

Graphene can trigger a smart and sustainable [[carbon revolution|Graphene and the Carbon Revolution]], with profound impact in information and communication technology (ICT) and everyday life. Its unique properties will spawn innovation on an unprecedented scale and scope for high speed, transparent and flexible consumer electronics; novel information processing devices; biosensors; supercapacitors as alternatives to batteries; mechanical components; lightweight composites for cars and planes.

The groundbreaking experiments on graphene in 2004 by European scientists Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were awarded the [[2010 Nobel Prize in Physics|Nobel "for groundbreaking experiments regarding the two-dimensional material graphene"]]. Their work has sparked a scientific explosion, best illustrated by the exponential growth of publications and patent applications related to graphene. Huge amounts of human resources and capital are being invested into graphene research and applications in the US, Japan, Korea, Singapore and elsewhere. The first products are expected to enter the market by 2014, according to estimates by Samsung.

The research effort of individual European research groups pioneered graphene science and technology, but a coordinated European level approach is needed to secure a major role for EU in this ongoing technological revolution.

The graphene flagship aims to bring together a large, focused, interdisciplinary European research community, acting as a sustainable incubator of new branches of ICT applications, ensuring that European industries will have a major role in this radical technology shift over the next 10 years. An effective transfer of knowledge and technology to industries will enable product development and production.

The graphene flagship already includes over 130 research groups, representing 80 academic and industrial partners in 21 European countries. The coordination action is lead by a consortium of nine partners who pioneered graphene research, innovation, and networking activities. Coordinated by [[Chalmers University of Technology|http://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/Pages/default.aspx]] in Sweden, it includes the Universities of Manchester, Lancaster, and Cambridge in the UK, the [[Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology|http://www.nanocat.org/aboutICN.php#]] in Spain, the [[Italian National Research Council|http://www.cnr.it/sitocnr/Englishversion/Englishversion.html]], the [[European Science Foundation|http://www.esf.org/about-esf.html]], [[AMO GmbH|http://www.amo.de/aboutus.0.html?&L=11]] in Germany, and the [[Nokia corporation|Nanotechnologies for future mobile devices]]. The advisory council includes Nobel Laureates [[Andre Geim|Awarded for the discovery of graphene]] (University of Manchester), Konstantin Novoselov (University of Manchester), [[Albert Fert|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Fert]] (THALES) and [[Klaus von Klitzing|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_von_Klitzing]] (Max-Planck Institute), the leading graphene theoretician [[Francisco Guinea|http://www.icmm.csic.es/PacoGuinea/webpage.htm]] (CSIC, Spain), as well as [[Luigi Colombo|http://www.techconnectworld.com/Nanotech2011/bio.html?id=39]] (Texas Instruments, USA) and Byung Hee Hong (SKK University, Korea), both pioneers of graphene mass production and graphene-based product development.

The pilot phase coordination action started on May 1. Its main task is to pave the way for the full, 10 year, 1,000 million euro flagship both in terms of the organizational framework and a scientific and technological roadmap for research and innovation. The action plan for the FET Flagship will be submitted in 2012 to the European Commission, aiming for GRAPHENE to be one of the two flagships launched in 2013.

"We are convinced that exploiting the full potential of graphene will have huge impacts on society at large, and thrilled that the EU Commission shares our view and believes in our focused and open approach to moving forward", says Prof. Jari Kinaret, Chalmers University of Technology, the project leader of [[GRAPHENE-CA|http://www.graphene-flagship.eu/GF/index.php]] (GRAPHENE-Coordinated Action). Source: [[GRAPHENE-CA appointed an EU Future Emerging Technology Flagship Pilot|http://www.graphene-flagship.eu/GFprelease/PR_GRAPHENE-CA_final.pdf]]

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The ubiquity of tiny particles of minerals -mineral nanoparticles- in oceans and rivers, atmosphere and soils, and in living cells are providing scientists with new ways of understanding Earth's workings. ''Our planet's physical, chemical, and biological processes are influenced or driven by the properties of these minerals''.

So states a team of researchers from seven universities in a paper published in the journal Science: [["Nanominerals, Mineral Nanoparticles, and Earth Systems."|http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/319/5870/1631]] "This is an excellent summary of the relevance of natural nanoparticles in the Earth system," said Enriqueta Barrera, program director in NSF's Division of Earth Sciences. "It shows that there is much to be learned about the role of nanominerals, and points to the need for future research."

Minerals have an enormous range of physical and chemical properties due to a wide range of composition and structure, including particle size. Each mineral has a set of specific physical and chemical properties. ''Nanominerals'', however, ''have one critical difference: a range of physical and chemical properties, depending on their size and shape''.

"This difference changes our view of the diversity and complexity of minerals, and how they influence Earth systems," said [[Michael Hochella|http://www.vt.edu/spotlight/achievement/2008-03-03_hochella/2008-03-03_hochella.html]] of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va.

''The role of nanominerals is far-reaching'', said Hochella. ''Nanominerals are widely distributed throughout the atmosphere, oceans, surface and underground waters, and soils, and in most living organisms, even within proteins''.

Nanoparticles play an important role in the lives of ocean-dwelling phytoplankton, for example, which remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Phytoplankton growth is limited by iron availability. Iron in the ocean is composed of nanocolloids, nanominerals, and mineral nanoparticles, supplied by rivers, glaciers and deposition from the atmosphere. Nanoscale reactions resulting in the formation of phytoplankton biominerals, such as calcium carbonate, are important influences on oceanic and global carbon cycling.

On land, nanometer-scale hematite catalyzes the oxidation of manganese, resulting in the rapid formation of minerals that absorb heavy metals in water and soils. The rate of oxidation is increased when nanoparticles are present.

Conversely, harmful heavy metals may disperse widely, courtesy of nanominerals. In research at the Clark Fork River Superfund Complex in Montana, Hochella discovered a nanomineral involved in the movement of lead, arsenic, copper, and zinc through hundred of miles of Clark River drainage basin.

Nanominerals can also move radioactive substances. Research at one of the most contaminated nuclear sites in the world, a nuclear waste reprocessing plant in Mayak, Russian, has shown that plutonium travels in local groundwater, carried by mineral nanoparticles.

In the atmosphere, mineral nanoparticles impact heating and cooling. Such particles act as water droplet growth centers, which lead to cloud formation. The size and density of droplets influences solar radiation and cloud longevity, which in turn influence average global temperatures.

''"The biogeochemical and ecological impact of natural and synthetic nanomaterials is one of the fastest growing areas of research, with not only vital scientific, but also large environmental, economic, and political consequences,"'' the authors conclude.

In addition to Hochella, authors of the paper are Steven Lower of Ohio State University, and Patricia Maurice of the University of Notre Dame; along with R. Lee Penn of the University of Minnesota; Nita Sahai of the University of ~Wisconsin-Madison; Donald Sparks of the University of Delaware; and Benjamin Twining of the University of South Carolina.

Source: [["Nanominerals" Influence Earth Systems from Ocean to Atmosphere to Biosphere|http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=111279&org=NSF&from=news]]. See also [[Nanoscience will change the way we think about the world|http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2008&itemno=177&head=Nanoscience%20will%20change%20the%20way%20we%20think%20about%20the%20world]]

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"Recently, a study from Australia reported that daily sunscreen use reduces the risk of melanoma by 50%, and reduces the risk of squamous cell carcinoma, another type of skin cancer, by 39%. Therefore, the importance of sun protection is unquestionable. Although more research is needed to solidify the environmental and occupational risks, the Nanodermatology Society believes that nano-based sunscreens do not pose serious health risks to consumers and agrees with regulatory agencies like the Environmental Working Group, which states: “Zinc and titanium-based formulations are among the safest, most effective, sunscreens on the market”. This statement is based on the current evidence showing:
•	Consumers using zinc and titanium sunscreen products are exposed to 20% less UVA radiation than those using sunscreens without these products.
•	Nano-titanium and zinc do not penetrate the outer layer of human skin, even through hair follicles. 
•	Nano-titanium and zinc do not reach living cells, and therefore pose no risk of toxicity.

As the summer months approach, we encourage all individuals to protect themselves from the damaging effects of the sun. In concurrence with the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) we suggest:
•	Wear protective clothing including a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses 
•	For areas that are exposed, apply a water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of
30 or above that provides both UVA and UVB protection. 
•	Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, regardless of activity (swimming, sweating) 
•	Seek shade, especially when the sun’s rays are strongest between 10am and 4pm." Source: From ''[[Nanodermatology Society Sunscreen Guidelines|http://www.nanodermsociety.org/documents/press/Nanodermatology_Society_Sunscreen_Guidelines_.pdf]]''. The 2011 Nanodermatology Society Position Statement on Sunscreens

"The [[Nanodermatology Society (NDS)|http://www.nanodermsociety.org/]] was established in 2010 to promote a greater understanding of the scientific and medical aspects of nanotechnology in skin health and disease. The Society is composed of physicians, dermatologists, physicists, chemists, policy makers, regulators, nanotechnology scientists, and students involved in nanotechnology specifically related to dermatology from teaching, to education, to scientific research. The Nanodermatology Society is supported by generous donations from Merck, Schering-Plough, Johnson & Johnson, Horiba Scientific, P&G, BASF". The [[1st International Conference of the Nanodermatology Society|http://www.nanomedjournal.org/content/nanodermatologysociety]] was held February 4th, 2011
			
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<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px" src="img/nanotechnology_engines_on.jpg" title="x" class="photo"  width="50%"/></html>//"Controlling climate change, abandoning dependency on fossil fuels, and creating the conditions for sustainable development will require as great a transformation as our ancestors accomplished over tens of thousands of years in moving from agrarian to urban societies". ''A new book about how Nanotechnology is contributing to solve this vital challenges''.

"Merging and blending some thoughts on recent news on energy that appeared in on our Nanowiki 2010 on the question of the unknown potential benefits to human health and environmental risks of nanotechnology. The responsible implementation of Nanotechnology should be a balance between the risks and benefits to society, as analyzed by a broad spectrum of stakeholders. Our intention is to promote the debate on the evolution of this young discipline, nanotechnology, to ensure its safe and responsible development. "

Download: [[Nanotechnology:Engines On|http://www.archive.org/details/NanotechnologyEnginesOn]]
Read online: [[Nanotechnology: Engines On]]//

Rather than infer that nanotechnology is safe, members of the public who learn about this novel science tend to become sharply polarized along cultural lines, according to a study conducted by the [[Cultural Cognition Project|http://www.culturalcognition.net/]] at Yale Law School in collaboration with the [[Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies|http://www.nanotechproject.org/]]. These findings have important implications for garnering support of the new technology, say the researchers.

According to Kahan and other experts, the findings of the experiment highlight the need for public education strategies that consider citizens' predispositions. "There is still plenty of time to develop risk-communication strategies that make it possible for persons of diverse values to understand the best evidence scientists develop on nanotechnology's risks," added Kahan. "The only mistake would be to assume that such strategies aren't necessary."

''"The message matters,"'' said David Rejeski, director of the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies. ''"How information about nanotechnology is presented to the vast majority of the public who still know little about it can either make or break this technology''. Scientists, the government, and industry generally take a simplistic, 'just the facts' approach to communicating with the public about a new technology. But, this research shows that diverse audiences and groups react to the same information very differently."

Source: [[Nanotechnology 'culture war' possible, says Yale study|http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-12/yu-nw120508.php]]

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Using lasers, Korean researchers have crafted a microscopic version of Rodin's famed sculpture "The Thinker" just about twice the size of a red blood cell at 20 millionths of a meter high. For more than a decade, researchers worldwide have experimented with lasers to fabricate elaborate 3-D creations.

[img[the thinker|http://www.livescience.com/images/070108_sculpt_C_02.jpg]] 
<html><a href="http://scitation.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=APPLAB000090000007079903000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes">Ultraprecise microreproduction of a three-dimensional artistic sculpture by multipath scanning method in two-photon photopolymerization</a> [Appl. Phys. Lett 90, 013113 (2007)] by Dong-Yol Yang, Sang Hu Park, Tae Woo Lim, Hong-Jin Kong, Shin Wook Yi, Hyun Kwan Yang and Kwang-Sup Lee</html>

Nanotechnologists have discovered that ''the photosynthesis system of bacteria can be used to transport light over relatively long distances. They have developed a type of 'molecular glass fibre''', a thousand times thinner than a human hair.

All plants and some bacteria use photosynthesis to store energy from the sun. Researchers from the [[MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology]] of the University of Twente have now discovered how parts of the photosynthesis system of bacteria can be used to transport light. In their experiments the researchers used isolated proteins from the so-called Light Harvesting Complex (LHC). These proteins transport the sunlight in the cells of plants and bacteria to a place in the cell where the solar energy is stored. The researchers built a type of 'molecular glass fibre' from the LHC proteins that is a thousand times thinner than a human hair.

In the experiment the researchers fastened the proteins onto a fixed background. They positioned them in a line, and in this way formed a thread. They then shone laser light to one point in the thread, and observed where the light went to. The line with the LHC proteins did not only transport the light, but transported it over much longer distances than the researchers had initially expected. Distances of around 50 nanometres are normally bridged in the bacteria from which the LHC proteins were isolated. In the researchers' experiments the light covered distances at least thirty times greater.

According to Cees Otto, one of the researchers involved, we can learn a lot from nature in experiments such as this. "The LHC proteins are the building blocks that nature gives us, and using then ''we can learn more about natural processes such as the transport of light in photosynthesis''. When we understand how nature works, we can then imitate it. In time we will be able to use this principle in, for example, solar panels."

The research was carried out in partnership with the University of Sheffield, and fully financed by [[NanoNed|http://www.nanoned.nl/]]. Source: [[MESA+/University of Twente nanotechnologists create ‘molecular glass fibres’|http://www.mesaplus.utwente.nl/news/otto.doc/]]. This work is detailed in the paper [[Long-Range Energy Propagation in Nanometre Arrays of Light Harvesting Antenna Complexes|http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nl1003569]] by Maryana Escalante, Aufried Lenferink, Yiping Zhao, Niels Tas, Jurriaan Huskens, Neil Hunter, Vinod Subramaniam and Cees Otto. "Here we report the first observation of long-range transport of excitation energy within a biomimetic molecular nanoarray constructed from LH2 antenna complexes from Rhodobacter sphaeroides."

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''The project ‘i, scientist’ is designed to get students to actually carry out scientific research themselves.'' The kids received some support from [[Beau Lotto|http://www.lottolab.org/]], a neuroscientist at UCL, and David Strudwick, Blackawton’s head teacher. As the children write, “This experiment is important, because no one in history (including adults) has done this experiment before.” From [[Eight-year-old children publish bee study in Royal Society journal|http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/12/21/eight-year-old-children-publish-bee-study-in-royal-society-journal/]]

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[<img[DNA cassette | http://www.nyu.edu/public.affairs/images/photos/uploads/Seeman-Proofs-12.jpg]]  New York University chemistry professor Nadrian C. Seeman and his graduate student Baoquan Ding have developed a DNA cassette through which a nanomechanical device can be inserted and function within a DNA array, allowing for the motion of a nanorobotic arm. The results, reported in the latest issue of the journal Science, mark the first time scientists have been able to employ a functional nanotechnology device within a DNA array.

"It is crucial for nanorobotics to be able to insert controllable devices into a particular site within an array, thereby leading to a diversity of structural states," explained Seeman. "Here we have demonstrated that a single device has been inserted and converted at a specific site." He added that the results pave the way for creating nanoscale "assembly lines" in which more complex maneuvers could be executed... http://www.nyu.edu/public.affairs/releases/detail/1355

Scientists at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have discovered a new way to use Rice's famed buckyball nanoparticles as passkeys that allows drugs to enter cancer cells.

The passkeys that Barron and colleagues developed contain a molecule called Bucky amino acid that was created in Barron's lab. Bucky amino acid, or Baa, is based on pheylalanine, one of the 20 essential amino acids that are strung together like beads on a necklace to build all proteins.

Barron's graduate student, Jianzhong Yang, developed several different Baa-containing peptides, or slivers of protein containing about a dozen or so amino acids. In their natural form, with pheylalanine as a link in their chain, these peptides did not pass through the cell walls.

Barron's group collaborated with Yang's brother, Baylor College of Medicine assistant professor Jianhua Yang at Texas ChildrenÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Cancer Center, and found the Baa-containing peptides could mimick viral proteins and pass through the walls of cancer cells. The peptides were found effective at penetrating the defenses of both liver cancer cells and neuroblastoma cells.

http://media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=9213&SnID=1476741455

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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-SPIE Optics + Photonics"> <a class="url" href="http://spie.org/optics-photonics.xml"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100801">August 1th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100805">5th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">SPIE Optics + Photonics</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">San Diego, California, USA</span> </a> <div class="description">For the Latest Research in Solar, Nano, Optical, and Photonics Technologies and Applications</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-Graphene 2012"> <a class="url" href="http://www.grapheneconf.com"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20120410">April 10th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20120413"> 13th, 2012</abbr> <span class="summary">Graphene 2012</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Brussels, Belgium</span></a>
<div class="description">Graphene 2012 International Conference will be <b>the largest European Event in Graphene</b>. A Plenary session with internationally renowned speakers, extensive thematic workshops in parallel, an important industrial exhibition carried out with the latest Graphene nanotrends for the future will be some of the features of this event.</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-US-EU bridging nanoEHS research efforts"> <a class="url" href="http://www.nano.gov/html/meetings/us-eu/index.html"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20110310">March 10th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20110311">11th, 2011</abbr> <span class="summary">US-EU bridging nanoEHS research efforts</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Washington, DC, USA</span></a><div class="description">To contribute to the dialogue that will lead to more effective collaboration between US and EU: Engage in an active discussion about Environmental Health and Safety questions for nano-enabled products, Encourage joint programs of work that would leverage resources, Establish communities of practice, including identification of key points of contact / interest groups / themes between key US and EU researchers and key US and EU funding sources for near-term and future collaborations
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-25th Anniversary of Buckminsterfullerene Discovery"> <a class="url" href="http://buckyball.smalley.rice.edu/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20101010">October 10th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20101013">13th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">25th Anniversary of Buckminsterfullerene Discovery</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA</span> </a> <div class="description">Rice University is celebrating the Buckyball's 25th Birthday with a commemorative celebration and conference.  The pivotal discovery of the buckyball marks the birth of nanoscience and nanotechnology on Rice's Campus. This celebration and conference will reunite the members of the research team in a special symposium. Here they ''will reminsce about the discovery and provide insight into the future of carbon nanotechnology''. </div>
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<<tiddler [[Feynman Anniversary Symposium]]>>

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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-ICNS4"> <a class="url" href="http://icns4.nanosharif.ir/page.asp?id=1"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20120312">March 12th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20120314"> 14th, 2012</abbr> <span class="summary">ICNS4</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Kish Island, Iran</span></a>
<div class="description">ICNS4, <b>the 4th International Conference on Nanostructures</b>. Nanostructures have been at the heart of nanoscience and nanotechnology. They play an important role and make significant contributions to the big challenges of energy, environment, health and sustainability. </div>
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<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px" src="img/nanosilver.jpg" title="TEM image of silver nanoparticles in the algicide Algaedyn used for swimming pools" class="photo"  width="50%"/></html>Nanosilver is not a new discovery by nanotechnologists – it has been used in various products for over a hundred years, as is shown by a new Empa study. The antimicrobial effects of minute silver particles, which were then known as “colloidal silver”, were known from the earliest days of its use.

Numerous nanomaterials are currently at the focus of public attention. In particular silver nanoparticles are being investigated in detail, both by scientists as well as by the regulatory authorities. The assumption behind this interest is that they are dealing with a completely new substance. However, Empa researchers Bernd Nowack and Harald Krug, together with Murray Heights of the company HeiQ have shown in a paper recently published in the journal «Environmental Science & Technology» that ''nanosilver is by no means the discovery of the 21st century''. Silver particles with diameters of seven to nine nm were mentioned as early as 1889. They were used in medications or as biocides to prevent the growth of bacteria on surfaces, for example in antibacterial water filters or in algaecides for swimming pools.

''The material has always been the same''
The nanoparticles were known as “colloidal silver” in those days, but what was meant was the same then as now – extremely small particles of silver. The only new aspect is the use today of the prefix "nano". "However," according to Bernd Nowack, "nano does not mean something new, and nor does it mean something that is harmful." When "colloidal silver" became available on the market in large quantities in the 1920s it was the topic of numerous studies and subject to appropriate regulation by the authorities. Even in those days the significance of the discovery of nanoparticles and how they worked was realized. "That is not to say that the possible side-effects of nanoparticles on humans and the environment should be played down or ignored," adds Nowack. It is important to characterize in exact detail the material properties of nanosilver and not just to believe unquestioningly the doubts and reservations surrounding the product.

''Nanosilver has different effects than silver''
The term nanoparticle is understood to refer to particles whose dimensions are less than 100 nm. Because of their minute size nanoparticles have different properties than those of larger particles of the same material. For example, for a given volume nanoparticles have a much greater surface area, so they are frequently much more reactive than the bulk material. In addition, even in small quantities nanosilver produces more silver ions than solid silver. These silver ions are toxic to bacteria. Whether or not nanosilver represents a risk to humans and the environment is currently the subject of a great deal of investigation.

''Nanosilver in wastewater treatment plants''
Currently there are hundreds of products in circulation which contain silver nanoparticles. Examples include cosmetics, food packaging materials, disinfectants, cleaning agents and – not least – antibacterial socks and underwear. Every year some 320 tonnes of nanosilver are used worldwide, some of which is released into wastewater, thus finding its way into natural water recirculation systems. What effects solar particles have on rivers, soil and the organisms that live in them has not yet been clarified in detail. [[A commentary by Bernd Nowack|http://www.sciencemag.org/content/330/6007/1054.summary]] in the scientific journal "Science" discusses the implications of the newest studies on nanosilver in sewage treatment plants. More than 90% remains bound in the sewage sludge in the form of silver sulfide, a substance which is extremely insoluble and orders of magnitude less poisonous than free silver ions. It apparently does not matter what the original form of the silver in the wastewater was, whether as metallic nanoparticles, as silver ions in solution or as precipitated insoluble silver salts. "As far as the environmental effects are concerned, it seems that nanosilver in consumer goods is no different than other forms of silver and represents only a minor problem for eco-systems," says Nowack. What is still to be clarified, however, is in what form the unbound silver is present in the treated water released from sewage works, and what happens to the silver sulfide in natural waters. Is this stable and unreactive or is it transformed into other forms of silver? Source: From ''[[At work against microbes for over a century. Nanosilver: a new name – well known effects|http://www.empa.ch/plugin/template/empa/3/103123/---/l=2]]''. This work was detailed in the paper [[“120 Years of Nanosilver History: Implications for Policy Makers”|http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es103316q]] by Bernd Nowack, Harald F. Krug, Murray Height<<slider chkSldr [[120 Years of Nanosilver History: Implications for Policy Makers]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>

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<br>//Nanosilver is one nanomaterial that is currently under a lot of scrutiny. Much of the discussion is based on the assumption that nanosilver is something new that has not been seen until recently and that the advances in nanotechnology opened completely new application areas for silver. However, we show in this analysis that nanosilver in the form of colloidal silver has been used for more than 100 years and has been registered as a biocidal material in the United States since 1954. Fifty-three percent of the EPA-registered biocidal silver products likely contain nanosilver. Most of these nanosilver applications are silver-impregnated water filters, algicides, and antimicrobial additives that do not claim to contain nanoparticles. Many human health standards for silver are based on an analysis of argyria occurrence (discoloration of the skin, a cosmetic condition) from the 1930s and include studies that considered nanosilver materials. The environmental standards on the other hand are based on ionic silver and may need to be re-evaluated based on recent findings that most silver in the environment, regardless of the original silver form, is present in the form of small clusters or nanoparticles. The implications of this analysis for policy of nanosilver is that it would be a mistake for regulators to ignore the accumulated knowledge of our scientific and regulatory heritage in a bid to declare nanosilver materials as new chemicals, with unknown properties and automatically harmful simply on the basis of a change in nomenclature to the term “nano”.//

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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-SME Nanomanufacturing Conference"> <a class="url" href="http://www.sme.org/cgi-bin/get-event.pl?--001875-000007-nhome--SME-"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100414">April 14th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100415">15th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">SME Nanomanufacturing Conference</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Mesa, Arizona</span> </a> <div class="description">Looking to understand what nanotechnology means for you? Need to understand how and why nanotechnology can improve your products, process and may even cut costs? Interested in learning about the latest applications and trends in top-down fabrication and bottom-up assembly techniques? This conference will highlight the current, near-term, and future applications of nanotechnology and how they are transforming the way we manufacture products. Peer networking, information sharing, and technology exchange among the world's nanomanufacturing leaders will be a key feature of the event.</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-DNA Computing and Molecular Programming (DNA16)"> <a class="url" href="http://dna16.ust.hk"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100614">June 14th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100617">17th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">DNA Computing and Molecular Programming (DNA16)</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Hong Kong, China</span> </a> <div class="description">Biomolecular computing has emerged as an interdisciplinary field that draws together chemistry, computer science, mathematics, molecular biology, and physics. Our knowledge of DNA nanotechnology and biomolecular computing increases dramatically with every passing year. The international meeting on DNA Computing has been a forum where scientists with different backgrounds, yet sharing a common interest in biomolecular computing, meet and present their latest results. Continuing this tradition, the 14th International Meeting on DNA Computing, under the auspices of the International Society for Nanoscale Science, Computation and Engineering (ISNSCE), will focus on the current theoretical and experimental results with the greatest impact. This annual conference focuses on topics that merge mathematics, computation, biology, and nanotechnology. Some examples are modeling of bionanoscale systems, using DNA oligonucleotides to guide the assembly of nanostructures, and implementing DNA-based computational devices for medical and other applications.</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-IEEE Nano 2011"> <a class="url" href="http://ieeenano2011.org/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20110815">August 15th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20110818">18th, 2011</abbr> <span class="summary">IEEE Nano 2011</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Portland, Oregon, USA</span></a><div class="description">NANO is the flagship IEEE conference in Nanotechnology, which makes it a must for students, educators, researchers, scientists and engineers alike, working at the interface of nanotechnology and the many fields of electronic materials, photonics, bio-and medical devices, alternative energy, environmental protection, and multiple areas of current and future electrical and electronic applications. In each of these areas, NANO is the conference where practitioners will see nanotechnologies at work in both their own and related fields, from basic research and theory to industrial applications.
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-nano tech 2012"> <a class="url" href="http://www.nanotechexpo.jp/en/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20120215">February 15th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20120209">17th, 2012</abbr> <span class="summary">nano tech 2012</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Tokyo, Japan</span></a>
<div class="description">nano tech International Nanotechnology Exhibition & Conference is <b>the world’s largest nanotechnology fair</b> and an essential event for state-of the-art manufacturing.

With the evolution of nanotechnology, application fields have broadened. Recently, nanotechnology based products and technologies became a key factor for the solution of important issues such as IT & electronics field, medical & health care, biotechnology, environment & energy problems.</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-NanoBio-Europe 2010"> <a class="url" href="http://www.nanobio-europe.com/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100615">June 15th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100617">17th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">NanoBio-Europe 2010</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Münster, Germany</span> </a> <div class="description">Nanobiotechnology as one of todays most fascinating and challenging field of research is a multidisciplinary and fast developing research area with revolutionary innovations in almost any field of science and engineering. The NanoBio-Europe Congress is going to present the most recent international developments in the field of nanobiotechnology and is providing a platform for interdisciplinary communication, new cooperations and projects to participants from science and industry. The major focus of the NanoBio-Europe Congress is set on medical applications of nanobio technology, in particular the characterization of cellular processes, machinery and interaction to control, manipulate or manufacture molecules or supramolecular assemblies to improve human health.</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-Nanotech 2011"> <a class="url" href="http://www.nanotechexpo.jp/en/index.html"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20110216">February 16th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20110218">18th, 2011</abbr> <span class="summary">nano tech 2011</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Tokyo, Japan</span></a><div class="description">At nano tech 2011, visitors will see the whole range of cutting-edge technologies and products that are essential today for modern manufacturing: nano materials, nano fabrication technology, evaluation & measurement, applied nanotech for IT & electronics, biotechnology, and the automotive field. nano tech 2011 will be held together with eight concurrent exhibitions.</div>
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Siemens Foundation announced winners of the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, "revealing the brightest high school minds in contention for the nation’s most coveted teen science prize." The Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology recognizes remarkable talent early on, fostering individual growth for high school students who are willing to challenge themselves through science research. Through this competition, students have an opportunity to achieve national recognition for science research projects that they complete in high school. 

<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px" src="img/angela_zhang.jpg" title="Angela Zhang. 17-year-old wins 100k for creating cancer-killing nanoparticle" class="photo"  width="50%"/></html>//Design of Image-guided, Photo-thermal Controlled Drug Releasing Multifunctional Nanosystem for the Treatment of Cancer Stem Cells - Biochemistry//

MENTOR:  [[Dr. Zhen Cheng|http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/radiology/researcher/Zhen_Cheng/]], Stanford University

//“I was surprised by the survival rate of patients who had undergone current cancer therapy.”//

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for initiating and driving tumor growth yet are often resistant to current cancer therapies.  In her research, Angela Zhang aimed to design a CSC-targeted, gold and iron oxide-based nanoparticle with a potential to eradicate these cells through a controlled delivery of the drug salinomycin to the site of the tumor.  The multifunctional nanoparticle combines therapy and imaging into a single platform, with the gold and iron-oxide components allowing for both MRI and Photoacoustic imaging.  This nanosystem could potentially help overcome cancer resistance, minimize undesirable side effects, and allow for real-time monitoring of treatment efficacy.

Angela, a senior, is interested in nanomedicine and molecular imaging because they allow her “to transform my interests in physics, chemistry, and biology into solutions for current health problems.”  She won the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2011 Grand Award and the ISEF 2010 Grand Award (both for medicine and health science), and a trip to attend the Taiwan International Science Fair awarded by the National Taiwan Science Education Center.  Angela planned and executed a fundraiser that raised over $5,000 a year for the Monta Vista Interact International Night and has participated in the Jade Ribbon Youth Council to raise awareness about Hepatitis B.  She plays golf and the piano and would like to major in chemical or biomedical engineering or physics.  She was a 2010 Siemens Competition Regional Finalist who put in 1,000 hours on her current project.  Angela hopes to become a research professor. Source: From [[2011 Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology|http://www.siemens-foundation.org/en/competition/2011_winners.htm#1]]

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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-EuroScience-Open-Forum-ESOF-2008"> <a class="url" href="http://www.euroscience.org/ESOF/esof2008.htm"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20080718">July 18th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20080723">22th, 2008</abbr> <span class="summary">EuroScience Open Forum ESOF 2008</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Barcelona</span> </a> <div class="description">Euroscience Open Forum is a biennial event which seeks to showcase European achievements right across the scientific spectrum and serves as an open forum for debates on science-related issues and also as a showcase for European and International research. Through ESOF, researchers and scientists, as well as the general public, are provided with an adequate platform for exchanging views and discussing the challenges and consequences of scientific developments around the world. Barcelona has been selected to host ESOF in 2008 and, thus, deserves the tribute as Europe’s “City of Science” for that year. </div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-NanoBio - Europe"> <a class="url" href="http://nanobio-europe-2012.jrc.ec.europa.eu/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20120618">June 18th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20120620"> 20th, 2012</abbr> <span class="summary">NanoBio - Europe</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Varese, Italy</span></a>
<div class="description">The 8th NanoBio-Europe conference will showcase the <b>latest international developments in nanobiotechnology</b>, and providing a platform to facilitate interdisciplinary communications, new collaborations for delegates from academic, industrial and clinical backgrounds.</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-IUTOX-2010"> <a class="url" href="http://gestion.pacifico-meetings.com/www/iutox2010/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100719">July 19th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100723">23th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">IUTOX-2010, the XII International Congress of Toxicology</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Barcelona, Catalunya, España</span> </a> <div class="description">The Spanish Association of Toxicology (AETOX) and EUROTOX in the name of the International Union of Toxicology (IUTOX), invite you to participate in IUTOX-2010. The Congress will encourage the interaction between Academia, Industry, Regulators, Expert in Human (clinical and epidemiology) and Environmental Toxicology. Chemical Safety is increasingly requiring integrated and translational approaches to get successful possibilities of innovative application of the results of research and development based on added values with safety to human health and the environment. </div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-BCNano'11"> <a class="url" href="http://www.ccit.ub.edu/w3/wcat/hom/hom_0000.htm"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20110919">September 19th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20110923">September 23th, 2011</abbr> <span class="summary">BCNano'11</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Barcelona, Spain</span></a><div class="description">BCNano11 goal is two-fold: first of all, we want this meeting to be the right spot to learn about nanotechnology, both from the university and industry point of view. Second, and thanks to debate forums, hands-on practical demos and poster sessions, we intend BCNano11 to be a generator of scientific relationships between researchers and also between industry and academia. Because the future of Nanotechnology relies on both of them. 
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-BioNanoMed 2010"> <a class="url" href="http://www.bionanomed.at/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20101102">November 2th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20101103">3th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">BioNanoMed 2010</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Krems, Austria</span> </a> <div class="description">Nanotechnology: New frontiers in Medicine & Biology. The aim of BioNanoMed 2010, 2nd International Congress, is to bring together clinical physicians, nanoscientists with a background of physics, biology, pharmacology, engineering or material science, industry experts as well as technology transfer and education institutions, governmental and non-governmental institutions in the field of life science to discuss current, emerging and future trends of the converging fields of Nanotechnology, Biotechnology and Medicine. </div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-ICONSAT-2012"> <a class="url" href="http://www.iconsat2012.com/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20120120">January 20th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20120124">24th, 2012</abbr> <span class="summary">ICONSAT-2012</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Hyderabad, India</span></a>
<div class="description">The International Conference On NanoScience And Technology (ICONSAT) was conducted every alternate year since 2003, primarily motivated by the desire <b>to promote scientific exchange between experts in India and abroad</b> in the area of nanoscience and technology. ICONSAT - 2012 is the fifth in the above series of international conferences and comes at a time when nanoscience and technology is on the upswing and the varied Nano Mission initiatives are beginning to bear fruit.</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-NanoAgri 2010"> <a class="url" href="http://www.nanoagri2010.com/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100620">June 20th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100625">25th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">NanoAgri 2010</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">São Pedro, SP, Brazil</span> </a> <div class="description">I International Conference on Food and Agriculture Applications of Nanotechnologies. New and emerging applications of nanotechnologies in food and agriculture and issues related to their use will be the focus of this Conference. In addition to exploring relevant scientific and technological advances, the Conference will also seek to highlight areas of research with the greatest potential to benefit society.</div>
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Nanotechnology in Cosmetics!

These days we are debating if nanoparticles in sunblock and toothpaste are safe. The ancient Greeks and Romans didn't know about such things - but they already used nanotechnology in their cosmetics. An ancient dyeing process for blacking hair is a remarkable illustration of synthetic nanoscale biomineralization.... http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/8233/

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We cordially invite you to attend the closing ceremony of the 2011 UCLA Sci|Art NanoLab “Imagine the Impossible” summer program and see the efforts of these bright young minds come to fruition. The event will begin promptly at 10 am PST in the CNSI auditorium. If you are unable to attend in person, please feel free to view the event online by visiting the following link:

''Video stream at 10:00 am, Friday, July 1st
http://cnsi.ctrl.ucla.edu/streaming/art-sci-live''

The Sci|Art NanoLab is a highly competitive summer program for high school juniors and seniors interested in collaborating with diverse and notable minds to challenge traditional, polarized perspectives of the arts and sciences. Sponsored by UCLA's ART|SCI Center, Department of Design | Media Arts and the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) , the Sci|Art  NanoLab focuses on multi-disciplinary collaborations exploring the possibilities and implications of scientific and technological innovation. Throughout the 2-week intensive program, students have made connections between cutting edge scientific research, popular culture and contemporary arts. Lab visits, workshops, hands-on experiments, and meetings with world renowned scientists are balanced with visits to museums, daily movie screenings and meetings with famous contemporary artists who collaborate with scientists. As part of the program curriculum, students have be asked to develop an original concept for a collaborative project under the general guidelines of ‘Imagine the Impossible’.  With the assistance skill workshops and the knowledge base of the Sci|Art Team, groups of students will deliver their final multimedia presentations during the closing ceremony on July 1st.

For more information on the program, please visit: http://artsci.ucla.edu/summer

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Via [[Roger Malina]]
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-Nanotech 2010"> <a class="url" href="http://www.techconnectworld.com/Nanotech2010/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100621">June 21th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100625">25th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">Nanotech 2010</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Anaheim, California</span> </a> <div class="description">Uniting innovators to bring nanotechnology from laboratory to marketplace. Nanotech 2010 brings together over 5,000 technology and business leaders and experts from academia, government, startups and Fortune 1,000 companies. </div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-NanoBio Europe 2011"> <a class="url" href="http://www.nisenet.org/nanodays/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20110621">June 21th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20110623">June 23th, 2011</abbr> <span class="summary">7th NanoBio Europe conference</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Cork, Ireland</span></a><div class="description">Nanobiotechnology is one of the most fascinating and challenging fields of research and development. It is highly multidisciplinary, involving research from all scientific and engineering disciplines, together with relevant clinical expertise as applicable. As such, nanobiotechnology provides great opportunities for innovation through converging of knowledge in materials, photonics, electronics, biology and medicine, with technology-driven and application-driven approaches combining. The major focus of the NanoBio-Europe Congress is on medical applications of nanobiotechnology, in which nanotechnology enabled devices and systems which should provide the basis for better, more accessible healthcare with improved outcomes for patients.
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar- Inaugural Conference of the American Society for Nanomedicine"> <a class="url" href="http://www.amsocnanomed.org/conference_info.php"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20091022">October 22th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20091025">25th, 2009</abbr> <span class="summary">Inaugural Conference of the American Society for Nanomedicine</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Potomac, Maryland, USA</span> </a> <div class="description">The areas of emphasis are clinical applications of nanotechnology enabling successful vaccine development, effective cancer therapy and novel treatment for neurological disorders. In addition, issues such as ethics, safety and toxicity, patent law, intellectual property, and commercialization will be addressed. </div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-NanoSpain 2010"> <a class="url" href="http://www.nanospainconf.org/2010/index.php?conf=10"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100323">March 23th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100326">26th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">NanoSpain 2010</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Malaga</span> </a> <div class="description">In 2008, Spain, Portugal and France (through their respective networks NanoSpain, PortugalNano and C'Nano GSO) decided to join efforts in order that NanoSpain events facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and promote interdisciplinary discussions not only in Spain but among the different groups from Southern Europe. Other objectives will also be to enhance industrial participation and permit considering the situation of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in the south of Europe. The NanoSpain2010 edition will be organised in Malaga (Spain) - to emphasise the importance at the Spanish and European level of the launch of the Centre for Research in Nanomedicine and Biotechnology, Bionand.</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-4th European-Conference for Clinical Nanomedicine (CLINAM 2011)"> <a class="url" href="http://www.clinam.org/conference.html"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20110523">May 23th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20110525">25th, 2011</abbr> <span class="summary">4th European-Conference for Clinical Nanomedicine (CLINAM 2011)</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Basel, Switzerland</span></a><div class="description">The Great Strides towards the Medicine of the Future. The European Joint Conference for Nanomedicine CLINAM 2011 reveals the limits and horizon of the promises of nanomedical tools, techniques, and materials in the context of prevalent and unsolved medical problems. The conference starts with the clinicians, reporting unsolved problems in a variety of medical disciplines. Based on these reports nanoscience-based technologies for solving these problems will be discussed.
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-Graphene Week 2011"> <a class="url" href="http://www.esf.org/activities/esf-conferences/details/2011/confdetail350.html"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20110424">April 24th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20110429">29th, 2011</abbr> <span class="summary">Graphene Week 2011</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Innsbruck, Austria</span></a>
<div class="description">The Graphene Week 2011 conference will be devoted to the science and technology of graphene, advances in its growth and chemical processing, manufacturing graphene-based devices and studies of electronic transport, investigation of physical properties using ARPES, STM and AFM, emerging applications of this new material. It will also address studies of optical properties of graphene and their applications in optoelectronics, graphene manufacturing by mechanical and chemical exfoliation, synthesis on SiC, and growth on metals and semiconductors.
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-Third International NanoBio Conference 2010"> <a class="url" href="http://www.nanobio.ethz.ch/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100824">August 24th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100827">27th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">Third International NanoBio Conference 2010</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Zurich, Switzerland</span> </a> <div class="description">Nanobiotechnology is the discipline of the future that is taking over the role of being the motor of economic growth from information technology. Biology is inherently nano. Just think of a cell, which is a warehouse of structures and functional units that are finely harmonized on the nanometer scale. The new tools of nanotechnology allow us to address biological and medical problems with unprecedented accuracy and sensitivity because now it has become possible to interact with the bio-world at the length scale at which it operates. New intelligent drug delivery vehicles, novel nanobiosensors, nanomedical imaging tools and other nanobio-devices, and new nanostructured biomaterials are expected to speed up quantitative biological and medical research, boost our diagnostic capabilities, and increase the length and quality of our lives. At the same time nanostructures inspired by nature or created using biological processes are expected to reduce the production costs of new nanodevices making them accessible for the public.</div>
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<div class="vevent"i d="hcalendar-NanoDays 2012">  <a class="url" href="http://www.nisenet.org/nanodays/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20120324">March 24th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20120401">April 1th, 2012</abbr> <span class="summary">NanoDays 2012</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">U.S.A.</span></a><div class="description">NanoDays is part of	 a nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering. NanoDays is organized by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net). This community event is the largest public outreach effort in nanoscale informal science education and involves science museums, research centers, and universities from Puerto Rico to Alaska.
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-First International Workshop on Nanomedicine"> <a class="url" href="http://www.etp-nanomedicine.eu/public/news-events/news/first-international-workshop-on-nanomedicine"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100426">April 26th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100427">27th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">First International Workshop on Nanomedicine</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Canary Wharf, London</span> </a> <div class="description">The workshop is intended to be a platform involving scientists, regulators (European Commission, US Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) and pharmaceutical industry active in application of nanotechnologies to pharmaceuticals. The objective is to have a discussion on identified issues and emerging science aspects, which may provide directions for future developments and regulatory considerations for nanomedicines.</div>
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<img src="http://www.nisenet.org/sites/default/files/nd_logo_3.full%20right%20sidebar.jpg"/><div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-NanoDays"> <a class="url" href="http://www.nisenet.org/nanodays/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20110326">March 26th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20110403">April 3th, 2011</abbr> <span class="summary">NanoDays</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">U.S.A.</span></a><div class="description">NanoDays is our nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering and its potential impact on the future. NanoDays events are organized by participants in the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network, and take place at over 200 science museums, research centers, and universities across the country
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-NanoIsrael 2012"> <a class="url" href="http://www2.kenes.com/nano/pages/home.aspx"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20120326">March 26th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20120327"> 27th, 2012</abbr> <span class="summary">NanoIsrael 2012</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Tel Aviv, Israel</span></a>
<div class="description">Israel is renowned for its achievements in innovation. Join us to meet the top people on the scientific and business fronts from Israel and abroad presenting cutting-edge technologies, leading scientific achievements and unique business opportunities </div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-The International GENNESYS Congress on Nanotechnology and Research Infrastructures"> <a class="url" href="http://www.gennesys2010.eu/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100426">May 26th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100427">28th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">The International GENNESYS Congress on Nanotechnology and Research Infrastructures</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Barcelona</span> </a> <div class="description">The GENNESYS Congress will also make key recommendations on how to structure and organize nanomaterials development in Europe and to promote a new culture in the world of nanomaterials in which research-discoveries will smoothly be transferred into industrial innovations by human-resource networks around modern research infrastructure platforms.</div>
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[img[http://www.cs.duke.edu/~reif/FNANO/graphics/header.jpg]]
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-Foundations of Nanoscience 2010"> <a class="url" href="http://www.cs.duke.edu/~reif/FNANO/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100427">April 27th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100430">30th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">Foundations of Nanoscience (FNANO10)</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Snowbird, Utah</span> </a> <div class="description">Foundations of Nanoscience is a yearly conference on foundations of nanoscience, maintaining the highest scientific standards. Self-assembly is the central theme of the conference. Topics include self-assembled architectures and devices, at scales ranging from nano-scale to meso-scale. Methodologies include both experimental as well as theoretical approaches.  The conference spans traditional disciplines including chemistry, biochemistry, physics, computer science, mathematics, and various engineering disciplines including MEMS. Also a Co-located NSF Workshop on DNA Origami is being organized for April 26, 2010</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-NanoSpain 2012"> <a class="url" href="http://www.nanospainconf.org/2012/index.php?conf=12"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20120227">February 27th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20120301"> March 1th, 2012</abbr> <span class="summary">NanoSpain 2012</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Santander, Spain</span></a>
<div class="description">In 2008, Spain, Portugal and France (through their respective networks NanoSpain, PortugalNano and C'Nano GSO) decided to join efforts in order that <b>NanoSpain events facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and promote interdisciplinary discussions not only in Spain but among the different groups from Southern Europe</b>.

Other objectives will also be to enhance industrial participation and permit considering the situation of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in the south of Europe.</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-Open Day on Nanotechnologies"> <a class="url" href="http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/ict/key_technologies/openday-nanotech_en.htm"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20101027">October 27th</abbr> &mdash;<span class="summary">Open Day on Nanotechnologies</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Brussels, Belgium, EU</span> </a> <div class="description">EU Commission Open Day on Nanotechnologies. “The development of nanotechnologies in and from Europe for more societal benefits” is the topic of an open workshop organized by the EU Commission High Level Group on Key Enabling Technologies.</div>
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[img[http://www.nanotech.net/files/media/logo/NTE2009_horizontal_300x58.jpg]]
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-Nanotech Europe 2009"> <a class="url" href="http://www.nanotech.net"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20090928">September 28th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20090930">30th, 2009</abbr> <span class="summary">Nanotech Europe 2009</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Berlin</span> </a> <div class="description">Europe's largest annual nanotechnology conference and exhibition, Nanotech Europe takes place on 28th - 30th September 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Nanotech Europe is an event for nanotechnology professionals, with an interest in research or taking that research to market. The fifth Nanotech Europe offers a broad, interdisciplinary overview of nanotechnology, and the opportunity to meet and discuss with others in the nanotechnology community.</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-Open Science Summit 2010"> <a class="url" href="http://opensciencesummit.com/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100729">July 29th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100731">31th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">Open Science Summit 2010</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Berkeley, California, USA</span> </a> <div class="description">Renowned physicist Freeman Dyson identifies  two kinds of scientific revolutions, those driven by new concepts (theoretical), and those driven by new tools (technological). To this classification of scientific revolutions, we can now add a third kind, an Organizational Revolution, the advent of a truly “Open Science,” which will profoundly affect the pace and character of subsequent theory and tool-driven paradigm shifts. The 21st century is off to a rocky start, and as economic and ecological crises converge, there is no shortage of dire predictions. On the other hand, politicians and pundits point to the expectation that Science and Technology will let humanity invent its way out of the problems we’ve created. This rosy outlook ignores a deep crisis that has been brewing and could hamstring our innovative capacity when we most urgently need it.</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-MINM 2010"> <a class="url" href="http://www.cmrdi.sci.eg/minm2010"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20101129">November 29th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20101202">December 2th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">Materials imperatives in the new millenium</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Cairo, Egypt</span> </a> <div class="description">Materials are essential for the economic growth of any country. They provide support to the down-stream industries and the entire industrial development of the nation. Maximization of the use of materials would result in an increase of the added value as new products could be obtained from the materials and its processing intermediates. During the last two decades, new technologies have been developed in the areas of material processing which allow its utilization in advanced applications. However, the intermediates require further purification to produce advanced materials for advanced industrial applications. Scientific collaboration among scientists from a variety of disciplines can help in better understanding of the material processing and utilization. R&D should focus on developing cost effective techniques to develop and utilize materials for solving the problems facing the world during the new millennium such as energy, environment, climate change, food and water supply. On the regional level, Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute (CMRDI) being a base of the Arab Association of Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology, will arrange during the conference a regional meeting of the association to identify areas of the mutual cooperation between members and non-member countries, consequently the conference will be a good forum for coordination of joint efforts.</div>
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In his project, “High Efficient 3-Dimensional Nanotube Solar Cell for Visible and UV Light,” William Yuan (12-year-old) invented ''a novel solar panel that enables [[light absorption from visible to ultraviolet light|Nanoantennas: the next generation of solar energy collectors]]''.  He designed carbon nanotubes to overcome the barriers of electron movement, doubling the light-electricity conversion efficiency. William also developed a model for solar towers and a computer program to simulate and optimize the tower parameters. //His optimized design provides 500 times more light absorption than commercially-available solar cells and nine times more than the cutting-edge, three-dimensional solar cell//.

Since 2005, William has been involved in the [[First Lego League|nano quest]] ([[FLL|nanoquest competition lego 2006]]), which led him to research renewable energy and nanotechnology. During his research and community outreach, William //realized the importance of renewable energy for future generations and began to focus his research on solar cells//.

Source: [[2008 Davidson Fellow Laureates|http://presskit.ditd.org/2008_Davidson_Fellows_Press_Kit/2008_DF_William_Yuan.pdf]]. "Davidson Fellows scholarships recognize young people under the age of 18 for completing a significant piece of work that has the potential to make a positive contribution to society in one of the following areas: science, technology, mathematics, music, literature, philosophy, or any other graduate-level work considered outside the box. [[The Davidson Institute|http://www.davidsongifted.org/]] mission is to recognize, nurture and support profoundly intelligent young people and to provide opportunities for them to develop their talents to make a positive difference."

A new X-ray microscope can look at nanomaterials in three dimensions.
<html><a href="http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Nanotechnology/Electron_microscopy#Transmission_electron_microscopy_.28TEM.29">
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)</a></html> has traditionally been used to study nanomaterials, but because electrons do not penetrate far into materials, the sample preparation procedure is usually complicated and destructive. Furthermore, TEM only gives two-dimensional images.

The new method shines a powerful X-ray source onto a nanoparticle and collects the X-rays scattered from the sample. Then computers construct a three-dimensional image from that data. The microscope can resolve details down to 17 nanometers, or a few atoms across.

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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-EuroNanoForum 2011"> <a class="url" href="http://www.euronanoforum2011.eu/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20110530">May 30th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20110601">June 1th, 2011</abbr> <span class="summary">EuroNanoForum 2011</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Budapest, Hungary</span></a><div class="description">EuroNanoForum is a biannual event supported by the European Commission and organised within the framework of the Presidency of the European Union. For the first time, EuroNanoForum is joining forces with another leading European nanotechnology event, <a href="http://www.nanotech.net/">Nanotech Europe</a>, to provide a single meeting point for the whole nanotechnology community. The event will cover the whole life cycle of nanotechnology, from basic research to nanotechnology-enabled products. In addition to a full conference programme, a matchmaking programme and exhibition will maximize opportunities for networking.
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-Bionanotechnology III"> <a class="url" href="http://www.biochemistry.org/tabid/379/MeetingNo/SA121/view/Conference/default.aspx"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20120104">January 4th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20120106">6th, 2012</abbr> <span class="summary">Bionanotechnology III</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Cambridge, United Kingdom</span></a>
<div class="description">Bionanotechnology III: from biomolecular assembly to applications. This meeting, the third in the series, brings together an international set of speakers who will discuss a broad range of topics in bionanotechnology from different perspectives and with different technical approaches.<br><br>Topics: Large natural and designed assemblies, Single-molecule studies, Nanomaterials and devices in vitro, Nanomaterials and devices in vivo, Biomolecular self-assembly
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-Nanofair 2010"> <a class="url" href="http://www.nanofair.com/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100706">July 6th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100707">7th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">Nanofair 2010 - 8th International Nanotechnology Symposium</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Dresden, Germany</span> </a> <div class="description">Nanofair is, since 2002, the most established conference on nanotechnology in Europe and will provide a forum for presenting current research results and for the exchange of ideas and information between researchers, scientists and engineers from industry, research laboratories and universities. The focus for this year’s conference will be on all kinds of material aspects, for instance functional nanocomposites, nanomaterials for energy applications or nanoanalytica methods.</div>
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[img[http://www.tntconf.org/images/Logo_new_TNT2009.jpg]]
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-TNT2009 Trends in NanoTechnology"> <a class="url" href="http://www.tntconf.org/2009/index.php?conf=09"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20090907">September 7th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20090911">11th, 2009</abbr> <span class="summary">TNT2009 Trends in NanoTechnology</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Barcelona</span> </a> <div class="description">The TNT2009 edition (September 07-11, 2009) will take place in Barcelona in particular to emphasise the importance at the Spanish and European level of the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology activity of the Catalonian region.This high-level scientific meeting series aims to present a broad range of current research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology as well as related policies (European Commission, etc.) or other kind of initiatives (nanoGUNE, FinNano, GDR-I, etc.). </div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-Magnetic Nanostructures"> <a class="url" href="http://www.nanobio.ethz.ch/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20100808">August 8th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20100813">13th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">Magnetic Nanostructures</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Bates College, 
Lewiston, Maine, USA</span> </a> <div class="description">This conference will be a forum for discussion of spin-dependent and magnetic phenomena in condensed matter systems with nanoscale dimensions. The field of magnetic nanostructures encompasses a wide variety of topics. Spintronics continues to be a prominent area of interest, but many other areas of nanomagnetism will also be included. Previous conferences have included presentations on molecular magnets, biomagnetism, new routes to high density magnetic recording media and magnetic logic devices, spin torque induced dynamics, the manipulation of magnetism by electrical fields, multiferroic materials, spin injection into semiconductors, the spin Hall effect, magnetic nanoparticles and nanowires, magnetostrictive devices, ultrafast magnetization dynamics, domain wall motion, spin wave excitations, optical and scanning probe spin manipulation, and nanoscale magnetic imaging.</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-National Nanotechnology Innovation Summit"> <a class="url" href="http://www.nsti.org/events/NNI/"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20101208">December 8th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20101210">10th, 2010</abbr> <span class="summary">National Nanotechnology Innovation Summit</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Washington, USA</span> </a> <div class="description">The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) will celebrate its tenth anniversary with the National Nanotechnology Innovation Summit. "Don't miss this once in a decade gathering of the nation’s top Funding Agencies, Innovators and Investors at the National Nanotechnology Innovation Summit. Join the Nation’s top nanotech leaders showcasing their successes and discussing strategic insights into Nanotechnology challenges and opportunities."</div>
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<div class="vevent" id="hcalendar-BfR-Conference on Nanosilver"> <a class="url" href="http://www.bfr.bund.de/en/event/bfr_conference_on_nanosilver-128143.html"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="20120208">February 8th</abbr> &mdash; <abbr class="dtend" title="20120209">9th, 2012</abbr> <span class="summary">BfR-Conference on Nanosilver</span>&mdash; at <span class="location">Germany</span></a>
<div class="description">The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is holding <b>a scientific conference on the health risk assessment of nanosilver</b>. The aim of the conference is to provide an overview of the current scientific state regarding the production and application of nanosilver in consumer products and food. </div>
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Researchers demonstrate a new solar cell technology: ''How To Make a Solar Cell with Donuts and Tea''.

"It turns out these delicious little things contain everything we need to make a simple solar cell," said [[Blake Farrow|http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/donutsolar/]], a Canadian scientist who filmed the video while visiting [[Prashant Kamat’s lab|http://www.nd.edu/~pkamat/]] at the University of Notre Dame.

Notre Dame’s YouTube Channel

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<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px" src="http://newscenter.lbl.gov/wp-content/uploads/nanorope.jpg" title="Berkeley Lab scientists have developed a nanoscale rope that braids itself, as seen in this atomic force microscopy image of the structure at a resolution of one-millionth of a meter" class="photo" width="50%"/></html> ''Scientists have coaxed polymers to braid themselves into wispy nanoscale ropes that approach the structural complexity of biological materials.''

Their work is the latest development in the push to develop self-assembling nanoscale materials that mimic the intricacy and functionality of nature’s handiwork, but which are rugged enough to withstand harsh conditions such as heat and dryness.

Although still early in the development stage, their research could lead to new applications that combine the best of both worlds. Perhaps they’ll be used as scaffolds to guide the construction of nanoscale wires and other structures. Or perhaps they’ll be used to develop drug-delivery vehicles that target disease at the molecular scale, or to develop molecular sensors and sieve-like devices that separate molecules from one another.

Specifically, the scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) created the conditions for synthetic polymers called polypeptoids to assemble themselves into ever more complicated structures: first into sheets, then into stacks of sheets, which in turn roll up into double helices that resemble a rope measuring only 600 nanometers in diameter (a nanometer is a billionth of a meter).

“This hierarchichal self assembly is the hallmark of biological materials such as collagen, but designing synthetic structures that do this has been a major challenge,” says Ron Zuckermann, who is the Facility Director of the Biological Nanostructures Facility in Berkeley Lab’s Molecular Foundry.

In addition, unlike normal polymers, the scientists can control the atom-by-atom makeup of the ropy structures. They can also engineer helices of specific lengths and sequences. This “tunability” opens the door for the development of synthetic structures that mimic biological materials’ ability to carry out incredible feats of precision, such as homing in on specific molecules.

“Nature uses exact length and sequence to develop highly functional structures. An antibody can recognize one form of a protein over another, and we’re trying to mimic this,” adds Zuckermann.

Zuckermann and colleagues conducted the research at The Molecular Foundry, which is one of the five DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers premier national user facilities for interdisciplinary research at the nanoscale.

The scientists worked with chains of bioinspired polymers called a peptoids. Peptoids are structures that mimic peptides, which nature uses to form proteins, the workhorses of biology. Instead of using peptides to build proteins, however, the scientists are striving to use peptoids to build synthetic structures that behave like proteins.

The team started with a block copolymer, which is a polymer composed of two or more different monomers.

“Simple block copolymers self assemble into nanoscale structures, but we wanted to see how the detailed sequence and functionality of bioinspired units could be used to make more complicated structures,” says Rachel Segalman, a faculty scientist at Berkeley Lab and professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at University of California, Berkeley.

With this in mind, the peptoid pieces were robotically synthesized, processed, and then added to a solution that fosters self assembly.

''The result was a variety of self-made shapes and structures, with the braided helices being the most intriguing.'' The hierarchical structure of the helix, and its ability to be manipulated atom-by-atom, means that it could be used as a template for mineralizing complex structures on a nanometer scale.

“The idea is to assemble structurally complex structures at the nanometer scale with minimal input,” says Hannah Murnen. She adds that the scientists next hope is to capitalize on the fact that they have minute control over the structure’s sequence, and explore how very small chemical changes alter the helical structure.

Says Zuckermann, “These braided helices are one of the first forays into making atomically defined block copolymers. The idea is to take something we normally think of as plastic, and enable it to adopt structures that are more complex and capable of higher function, such as molecular recognition, which is what proteins do really well.” Source: [[A Nanoscale Rope, and Another Step Toward Complex Nanomaterials That Assemble Themselves|http://newscenter.lbl.gov/feature-stories/2011/01/18/nanoscale-rope/]]. This work was detailed in the paper [[“Hierarchical Self-Assembly of a Biomimetic Diblock Copolypeptoid into Homochiral Superhelices”|http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ja106340f]] by Hannah K. Murnen, Adrianne M. Rosales, Jonathan N. Jaworski, Rachel A. Segalman, and Ronald N. Zuckermann <<slider chkSldr [[Hierarchical Self-Assembly of a Biomimetic Diblock Copolypeptoid into Homochiral Superhelices]] [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>

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Access on the web at no charge in 2007

The inaugural issue of ACS Nano was released online August 14, 2007. During 2007, the journal is available on the web at no charge. Go to the web site now: http://www.acsnano.org

The first issue of ACS Nano features articles presenting the latest findings from the research groups of Drs. David Allara, Hongjie Dai, and Prashant Kamat, along with a conversation with Nobel Laureate Heinrich Rohrer and a special editorial by ~Editor-in-Chief Paul S.
Weiss.

ACS Nano is a new international forum for the communication of comprehensive articles on nanoscience and nanotechnology research at the interfaces of chemistry, biology, materials science, physics, and engineering. Moreover, the journal helps facilitate communication among scientists from all these research communities in developing new research opportunities, advancing the field through new discoveries, and reaching out to scientists at all levels.

In addition to comprehensive, original research articles, ACS Nano offers reviews, perspectives on cutting-edge research, conversations with nanoscience and nanotechnology thought leaders, and discussions of topics that are important for the entire community.

ACS Nano complements Nano Letters, the leading forum for rapid communication of nanoscale research, ranked #1 in nanoscience & nanotechnology with a 9.960 impact factor.

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[<img[This figure illustrates the comparison of a synapse with the NOMFET. (Image: Dr. Vuillaume, IEMN-CNRS)|http://www.iemn.univ-lille1.fr/uploads/pics/SynT.jpg]]For the first time, French researchers at CNRS and CEA have developed a transistor that can mimic the main functionalities of a synapse. This organic transistor, based on pentacene and gold nanoparticles and known as a NOMFET (Nanoparticle Organic Memory Field-Effect Transistor), has opened the way to new generations of neuro-inspired computers, capable of responding in a manner similar to the nervous system.

In the development of new information processing strategies, one approach consists in mimicking the way biological systems such as neuron networks operate to produce electronic circuits with new features. In the nervous system, a synapse is the junction between two neurons, enabling the transmission of electric messages from one neuron to another and the adaptation of the message as a function of the nature of the incoming signal (plasticity). For example, if the synapse receives very closely packed pulses of incoming signals, it will transmit a more intense action potential. Conversely, if the pulses are spaced farther apart, the action potential will be weaker. It is this plasticity that the researchers have succeeding in mimicking with the NOMFET.

A transistor, the basic building block of an electronic circuit, can be used as a simple switch - it can then transmit, or not, a signal - or instead offer numerous functionalities (amplification, modulation, encoding, etc.).

The innovation of the NOMFET resides in the original combination of an organic transistor and gold nanoparticles. These encapsulated nanoparticles, fixed in the channel of the transistor and coated with [[pentacene|The Chemical Structure of a Molecule Resolved by Atomic Force Microscopy]], have a memory effect that allows them to mimic the way a synapse works during the transmission of action potentials between two neurons. This property therefore makes the electronic component capable of evolving as a function of the system in which it is placed. Its performance is comparable to the seven CMOS transistors (at least) that have been needed until now to mimic this plasticity.

The devices produced have been optimized to nanometric sizes in order to be able to integrate them on a large scale. Neuro-inspired computers produced using this technology are capable of functions comparable to those of the human brain. Unlike silicon computers, widely used in high performance computing, neuro-inspired computers can resolve much more complex problems, such as visual recognition. Source: ''[[An organic transistor paves the way for new generations of neuro-inspired computers|http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=66617&CultureCode=en]]''. This work is detailed in the paper [[An Organic Nanoparticle Transistor Behaving as a Biological Spiking Synapse|http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123215199/abstract]] by Fabien Alibart, Stéphane Pleutin, David Guérin, Christophe Novembre, Stéphane Lenfant, Kamal Lmimouni, Christian Gamrat and [[Dominique Vuillaume|http://iemn.univ-lille1.fr/sites_perso/vuillaume/DVu.html]].

[[Related quotes|http://topics.treehugger.com/search/quotes?q=NOMFET]]

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In the past decade numerous projects on the risks associated with nanomaterials have been initiated and carried out. In general, they dealt with the subject of how nanomaterials could be used without representing a danger to the environment and human health. However a lack of specialists is preventing further urgently needed studies in the field of nano(eco)toxicology from being undertaken. In addition there are numerous gaps – some quite large –.in our knowledge of this subject. These are the conclusions drawn in two reports recently made public, in both of which Empa nanotoxicologist [[Harald Krug|http://www.empa.ch/plugin/template/empa/357/*/---/uacc=krh030/l=2]] was significantly involved.

There are hundreds of products based on nanotechnological manufacturing processes available on the market today, ranging from sun cream and pigments all the way to clothing. Right from the early days these developments were accompanied by research into the safety aspects of nanoproducts. Harald Krug, a toxicologist at Empa has, ''after a decade of research in the field of nanosafety, come to the following (provisional) conclusion: "To date no specific risks are known to exist in association with the use of nanoproducts – or rather free nanoparticles."'' But even if there are no concrete indications of serious problems with synthetic nanoparticles, Hug says that this is not a general "all clear". Companies wishing to market a new nanoproduct should carefully consider its entire life-cycle, from manufacture through use of the item all the way to its final disposal or possible recycling.

“Because in recent years in Europe a large number of environmental toxicological institutes have been closed down ''there are now not enough experts and specialists in the field of the environmental nanotoxicology''.” Consequently, in countless scientific publications in the field the rules of toxicology are not being followed, usually through lack of knowledge. "And as a result there are these horror stories which create a great deal of uncertainty and unease."

<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:5px" src="img/nanosafety_report.jpg" title="10 Jahre Forschung zu Risikobewertung, Human- und Ökotoxikologie von Nanomaterialien" class="photo"  width="50%"/></html>A 60 page report recently published by the German Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (DECHEMA) and the Chemical Industry Association (VCI), [["10 Jahre Forschung zu Risikobewertung, Human- und Ökotoxikologie von Nanomaterialien"|http://www.dechema.de/dechema_media/Downloads/Positionspapiere/RisikobewertungNano_2011.pdf]] offers an overview of research projects conducted during the last decade on the subject of nanosafety. It covers six Swiss, 40 German, one US and 25 EU projects.

In another report, [["Impact of engineered nanomaterials on health: considerations for benefit-risk assessment"|http://ihcp.jrc.ec.europa.eu/our_activities/nanotechnology/joint-jrc-easac-report-impact-of-engineered-nanomaterials-on-health]], the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) drew attention to the gaps in our scientific knowledge in this field and indicated very clearly the topics which need to be researched in the coming years in order that nanomaterials can be directly utilized without risks to our environment or to human health. "Looking at these results, I really wish that in future we would invest more in education and training in environmental toxicology. Only then is it possible to undertake responsible research in this field, and only then can we guarantee the sustainable development of these new technologies," says Krug. Source: From [[A decade of research on nanotechnology risks. Ten years of research on nano materials|http://www.empa.ch/plugin/template/empa/3/114948/---/l=2]].

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San Jose, Calif. - 28 Sep 2009:  On this day in 1989, IBM Fellow [[Don Eigler|The Kitty Hawk of nanotechnology]] became the first person in history to move and control an individual atom.  Shortly thereafter, on November 11 of that year, [[Eigler|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Eigler]] and his team used a custom-built microscope to spell out the letters IBM with 35 xenon atoms. ''This unprecedented ability to manipulate individual atoms signaled a quantum leap forward in nanoscience experimentation and heralded in the age of nanotechnology''. “Don Eigler’s accomplishment remains, to this day, one of the most important breakthroughs in nanoscience and technology,” said T.C, Chen, IBM Fellow and vice president, Science & Technology, IBM Research. “At the time, the implications of this achievement were so far-reaching they almost seemed like science fiction. But now, twenty years later, it’s clear that this was a defining moment that has spawned the kind of research that will eventually bring us beyond CMOS and Moore’s Law, to advance computing to handle the massive volumes of data in the world while using less energy resources. ” From [[IBM Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Moving Atoms|http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/28488.wss]]. Twenty years ago, IBM Fellow Don Eigler changed the course of nanotechnology research. More: [[IBM Research: Major Nanoscale Breakthroughs|http://www.ibm.com/press/attachments/28488.pdf]]

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Addictlab and IMEC are launching a new call for ideas and visions on future applications of emerging technologies in the field of art, design, architecture, fashion, communication, environments, health and well-being. After a first successful collaboration researching visual, conceptual and more practical ways of communicating about nanotechnology, a new call will take it one step further into the world of emerging technologies and their applications, with a focus on the emerging invisible (a-material) production, where benefits are perceptions centred. ''The Addict & IMEC partnership is also aimed at creating a brand new international platform for creative views on nanotechnology applications and ideas''. An international jury will select a winner for each application domain and announce it during a public event in 2009.

It all started a year ago. IMEC, Europe's leading independent nanoelectronics and nanotechnology research centre is driven by a dream: opening up the horizon of emerging technologies research, not only by widening the fields of scientific studies, but involving and informing as many people as possible. Science is for all, not only an educational topic, but also as a mean of increasing creativity and creating a true dialogue on science, technology, possible applications and implications. ''By crossing the borders between science and technology and art and design industry, research institutes, academia and policy leaders can enter into a dialogue with the broad public''.

In this aim, IMEC came to Ad!dict Creative Lab for a first project that resulted in a publication: [[#27 Nanotechnology|http://www.addictlab.com/labfiles/?page=project&project=52]]. This Inspiration Book generated workshops and exhibitions during 2007, and it’s still adopted at IMEC as a communication tool to explain that science and creativity have no limits. The present project needs to be considered as a step further: ''emerging technologies are becoming privileged media in art and design''. Even if still delimited to a niche category (e.g. bio-art, interactive- or experience design, etc.) we all know that in an optic of sustainable development, this might be the future.

The Addict Inspiration Book [[#29 “in.tangible.scape.s”|http://www.modobruxellae.be/Doc/annonces/080212_addictlab.pdf]] will go through that entire invisible domain that is ''moving the creativity world from the object predominance to the experiencing sphere of perceptions and the benefits of a more and more invisible (a-material) production''. This call reaches out to designers, artists, students, architects, engineers, researchers and dreamers worldwide. This second step will lead Addict with its labmembers and IMEC to the promotion of a new global approach of science and high-tech applied to arts and design in the wider sense.

Source: [[A joint initiative to bring science and technology to life through art and design|http://www.imec.be/wwwinter/mediacenter/en/Addict_2008.shtml]]

{{twocolumns{
When we catch a cold, the immune system steps in to defend us. This is a well-known biological fact, but is difficult to observe directly. Processes at a molecular level are not only miniscule, they are often extremely fast, and therefore difficult to capture in action. Scientists at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie ([[HZB|http://www.helmholtz-berlin.de/]]) and the Technische Universität Berlin ([[TUB|http://www.tu-berlin.de/]]) now present a method that takes us a good step towards producing a “molecular movie”. They can record two pictures at such a short time interval that it will soon be possible to observe molecules and nanostructures in real time.

''A “molecular movie” that shows how a molecule behaves at the crucial moment of a chemical reaction would help us better understand fundamental processes in the natural sciences''. Such processes are often only a few femtoseconds long. A femtosecond is a millionth of a billionth of a second. While it is possible to record a single femtosecond picture using an ultra-short flash of light, it has never been possible to take a sequence of pictures in such rapid succession. On a detector that captures the image, the pictures would overlap and “wash out”. An attempt to swap or refresh the detector between two images would simply take too long, even if it could be done at speed of light.

In spite of these difficulties, members of the joint research group “Functional Nanomaterials” of HZB and the Technische Universität Berlin have now managed to take ultrafast image sequences of objects mere micrometres in size using pulses from the X-ray laser FLASH in Hamburg, Germany. Furthermore, they chart out a path how their approach can be scaled to nanometer resolution in the future. Together with colleagues from [[DESY|http://hasylab.desy.de/]] and the University of Münster, they have published their results.

The researchers came up with an elegant way to descramble the information superimposed by the two subsequent x-ray pulses. They encoded both images simultaneously in a single X-ray hologram. It takes several steps to obtain the final image sequence: First, the scientists split the X-ray laser beam into two separate beams. Using multiple mirrors, they force one beam to take a short detour, which causes the two pulses to reach the object under study at ever so slightly different times – the two pulses arrive only 0.00000000000005 seconds apart. Due to a specific geometric arrangement of the sample, the pulses generate a “double-hologram”. This hologram encodes the structure of the object at the two times at which the x-ray pulses hit. Using a mathematical reconstruction procedure, the researchers can then simply associate the images with the respective x-ray pulses and thus determine the  image sequence in correct temporal order.

''“The long-term goal is to be able to follow the movements of molecules and nanostructures in real time,”'' says project head Prof. Dr. Stefan Eisebitt. The extremely high temporal resolution in conjunction with the possibility to see the tiniest objects was the motivation to develop the new technique. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a movie made up of several pictures can tell you about an object’s dynamics. Source: [[Fastest movie in the world recorded|http://www.helmholtz-berlin.de/pubbin/news_seite?nid=13213&sprache=en&typoid=1]]. This work was detailed in the paper ''[[“Sequential femtosecond X-ray imaging”|http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/12/20/1010013108.abstract]]'' by C. M. Günther, B. Pfau, R. Mitzner, B. Siemer, S. Roling, H. Zacharias, O. Kutz, I. Rudolph, D. Schondelmaier, R. Treusch & [[S. Eisebitt|http://www.adlershof.de/newsview/?no_cache=1&L=2&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=8080]] <<slider chkSldr [[Sequential femtosecond X-ray imaging]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>

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{{twocolumns{
''New nanomaterials research could lead to new solutions for an age-old public health problem: how to separate bacteria from drinking water.''

Working with a special kind of polymer called a block copolymer, a University at Buffalo  research team has synthesized a new kind of nanomembrane containing pores about 55 nanometers in diameter -- large enough for water to slip through easily, but too small for bacteria.

"There's a lot of research in this area, but what our research team was able to accomplish is to expand the range of available pores to 50 nanometers in diameter, which was previously unattainable by block-copolymer-based methods," said Javid Rzayev, the UB chemist who led the study. "Making pores bigger increases the flow of water, which will translate into cost and time savings. At the same time, 50 to 100 nm diameter pores are small enough not to allow any bacteria through. So, that is a sweet spot for this kind of application."

The new nanomembrane owes its special qualities to the polymers that scientists used to create it. Source: [[A nano-Solution to global water problem: Nanomembranes could filter bacteria|http://www.buffalo.edu/news/12288]]. This work is detailed in the paper ''[[Large Pore Size Nanoporous Materials from the Self-Assembly of Asymmetric Bottlebrush Block Copolymers|http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nl103747m]]'' <<slider chkSldr [[Large Pore Size Nanoporous Materials from the Self-Assembly of Asymmetric Bottlebrush Block Copolymers]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>

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''Context: //[[Global freshwater demand expected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030|http://www.cwn-rce.ca/news-and-events/featured/canada-to-take-leading-role/]]//''
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European scientific research is normally presented to the public after the project is complete. When clear post-hoc descriptions of the science are constructed, it can present a misleading impression - of the process of scientific research, the methods and skills used by the researchers, and the levels of uncertainty involved. This makes debate of scientific subjects in the public arena difficult, and blocks the public from actively engaging with the science. Furthermore many of the most challenging and exciting aspects of scientific research are often never seen by the public.

''To find a new way to involve the public in scientific research. To actively engage them in a two-way dialogue. To show that scientific research is not about cut-and-dried facts but is a dynamic process of discovery, surprise, occasional failure, and often the unexpected. To impart a deeper understanding of the scientific process, and hopefully transfer some of the excitement of involvement in cutting edge nanoscience research''.

Using the latest video and Internet technology, we will produce documentary films before and after the project, showing our aims, and eventual outcomes. Throughout the project, the participants will produce ''video diaries which will be available to view over the Internet'', with a forum facilitating discussion between the scientists and the public.

We use a novel plasma treatment technique developed at Namur to modify the surface of carbon nanotubes. This makes it possible, in a single step, to apply precisely controlled amounts of metal to the nanotube surfaces. These metal-nanotube hybrid materials have great potential for use in gas sensors. Combining detailed experiments with strong computer modelling support we will develop new insight into the fundamental interactions between metals and carbon nanotubes, as well as the behaviour of nanotubes in plasma treatments. At the same time we will develop industrial scale production techniques for synthesis, and design, test and optimise a gas sensing device using these metal-nanotube hybrid nanomaterials.

''To see what the scientists are doing at the moment'', go to the [[View Scientist Diaries|http://www.nano2hybrids.net/browse_posts.php]]

Source: [[nano2hybrids project|http://www.nano2hybrids.net/2-project/introduction.php]]

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For a long time miniaturization has been the magic word in electronics. Dr. Willi Auwaerter and Professor Johannes Barth, together with their team of physicists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM), have now presented a novel molecular switch. Decisive for the functionality of the switch is the position of a single proton in a porphyrin ring with an inside diameter of less than half a nanometer. The physicists can set four distinct states on demand.

<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px" src="img/nano_switch.gif" title="Porphyrin-nano switch Picture: Knud Seufert / TUM" class="photo"  width="50%"/></html>Porphyins are ring-shaped molecules that can flexibly change their structure, making them useful for a wide array of applications. Tetraphenylporphyrin is no exception: It likes to take on a saddle shape and is not limited in its functionality when it is anchored to a metal surface. The molecule holds has a pair of hydrogen atoms that can change their positions between two configurations each. At room temperature this process takes place continuously at an extremely rapid rate.

In their experiment, the scientists suppressed this spontaneous movement by cooling the sample. This allowed them to induce and observe the entire process in a single molecule using a scanning tunneling microscope. This kind of microscope is particularly well suited for the task since – in contrast to other methods – it can be used not only to determine the initial and final states, but also allows the physicists to control the hydrogen atoms directly. In a further step they removed one of the two protons from the inside of the porphyrin ring. The remaining proton could now take on any one of four positions. A tiny current that flows through the fine tip of the microscope stimulates the proton transfer, setting a specific configuration in the process.

Although the respective positions of the hydrogen atoms influence neither the basic structure of the molecule nor its bond to the metallic surface, the states are not identical. This small but significant difference, taken together with the fact that the process can be arbitrarily repeated, forms the basis of a switch whose state can be changed up to 500 times per second. A single tunneled electron initiates the proton transfer.

''The molecular switch has a surface area of only one square nanometer, making it the smallest switch implemented to date''. The physicists are thrilled by their demonstration and are also very happy about new insights into the mechanism behind the proton transfer resulting from their study. Knud Seufert played a key role with his experiments: ''“To operate a four-state switch by moving a single proton within a molecule is really fascinating and represents a true step forward in nano-scale technologies.”'' Source: From [[Targeted proton transfer within a molecule:The smallest conceivable switch|http://portal.mytum.de/pressestelle/pressemitteilungen/NewsArticle_20111208_092050]]. This work was detailed in the paper [[“A surface-anchored molecular four-level conductance switch based on single proton transfer”|http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/NNANO.2011.211]].

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[<img[Why nanosized minerals do what they do: This computer simulation reveals the cross section of the water density around a 2.7 nanometer faceted particle. The blue indicates an iron site, pink indicates the area with low water density, and red indicates the area with high water density.|http://newscenter.lbl.gov/wp-content/uploads/picture-3.png]] The red and blue images appear ghostly, like a fleeting glimpse of something that’s never been seen before — which is true. Using computer simulations, Berkeley Lab scientists have developed the first predicted images of water molecules surrounding a nanoparticle, in this case an iron-oxide mineral called [[hematite|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematite]]. The simulations indicate that the size and shape of the nanosized mineral determines the way in which water molecules layer around it. And this influences how the mineral interacts with its environment, including other nanoparticles, dissolved ions, and the surfaces of larger minerals and bacteria.

The images are a peek into the hidden world of ''nanosized minerals'', which ''are important components of geochemical cycles in soils, groundwater, rivers and lakes. They’re also key players in some of the biggest challenges facing scientists today. Cleaning up contaminants left over from abandoned mines, or learning how to store carbon underground — where it can’t contribute to climate change — will require a better understanding of how nanosized minerals participate in these processes.''

Addressing these headline-grabbing problems is one of the reasons behind the recently created [[Berkeley Nanogeoscience Center|http://nanogeoscience.berkeley.edu/]] which seeks to uncover the roles played by nanosized particles in geochemical processes — both manmade and natural. The multidisciplinary group of scientists utilizes cutting edge imaging technologies and computer simulations to learn what makes nanosized minerals tick.

To explore this world, scientists at the Berkeley Nanogeoscience Center utilize [[transmission electron microscopy|http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Nanotechnology/Electron_microscopy#Transmission_electron_microscopy_.28TEM.29]] at Berkeley Lab’s National Center for Electron Microscopy, which offers extremely high-resolution imaging. [[Berkeley Lab’s Advanced Light Source|http://www-als.lbl.gov/]], a national user facility that generates intense light for scientific research, is used to characterize the chemistry of nanoparticles and image their association with biopolymers and cells. Source: From ''[[Computer simulations shed light on nanosized minerals|http://newscenter.lbl.gov/feature-stories/2009/07/06/nanosized-minerals/]]''. This work is detailed in the paper ''[[Prediction of the effects of size and morphology on the structure of water around hematite nanoparticles|http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V66-4W3HX9K-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=958079547&_rerunOrigin=scholar.google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=9ddded52830b4f454340d372e2d3bf01]]'' by [[Dino Spagnoli|http://nanogeoscience.berkeley.edu/People/DSpagnoli/DSpagnoli.html]], [[Benjamin Gilbert|http://nanogeoscience.berkeley.edu/People/BGilbert/BGilbert.html]], [[Glenn Waychunas|http://nanogeoscience.berkeley.edu/People/GAWaychunas/GAWaychunas.html]], and [[Jillian Banﬁeld|http://eps.berkeley.edu/development/view_person.php?uid=185017&page=25]].


''Nanoscale minerals - nanoparticles - are formed in the environment as a result of [[microbial activity|Nanotube-producing bacteria]], inorganic precipitation reactions and chemical weathering''. Nanoparticles of many common mineral phases have been found, including ferric iron oxyhydroxides, such as goethite; transition metal sulfides, such as sphalerite; as well as less common minerals such as ceria or gold! In addition, numerous common minerals are only found as nanomaterials, including ferrihydrite, akaganeite, mackinawite, and manganese hydroxides. Naturally-formed nanoparticles can be important components of geochemical cycles in soils, groundwater, rivers and lakes because they possess high surface areas for adsorption and reaction.

Nanoparticles may also be introduced into the environment as a consequence of human activities. For example, acid mine drainage, a legacy of decades of mining activity, can introduce huge quantities of ferric iron oxyhyoxide nanoparticles into surrounding watersheds. Moreover, the intense interest in nanoparticles as industrial catalysts, chemical additives, and novel technologies suggests that the environmental impact of synthetic nanomaterials will only increase with time. Several groups have proposed that engineered nanomaterials may be harnessed for cleaning up contaminated sites ... but the efficacy and impacts of such treatments have yet to be established. Source: ''[[Introduction to Nanogeoscience|http://nanogeoscience.berkeley.edu/]]''.

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{{twocolumns{
Is the emerging field of nanomedicine a breathtaking technological revolution that promises remarkable new ways of diagnosing and treating diseases? Or does it portend the release of dangerous nanoparticles, nanorobots or nanoelectronic devices that will wreak havoc in the body? A new review of more than 500 studies on the topic concludes that neither scenario is likely. It appears in ACS' journal Molecular Pharmaceutics.

Ruth Duncan and Rogerio Gaspar explain that ''nanomedicine — the application of nanotechnology to health care — often is overhyped as cure-alls or a potential danger''. The concept debuted with the visionary notion that robots and electronic devices so tiny that dozens would fit across the width of a human hair could be built and put into the human body to treat disease and repair damaged organs. ''About 40 nano health care products actually are in use'' and nano-sized drugs, drug delivery devices, imaging agents, and other products are on the horizon.

The authors first describe the history of nanomedicine, as well as many of the nanomedicine products available today. Then, they offer suggestions for how best to move a nanomedicine through the drug development process with risks and benefits in mind. Finally, they identify key factors critical for development of practical nanomedical technology that is safe and effective.

The authors acknowledged funding from iMedUL and The Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. Source: From [[A realistic look at the promises and perils of nanomedicine|http://portal.acs.org/portal/PublicWebSite/pressroom/presspacs/CNBP_028640]]. This work was detailed in the paper [[“Nanomedicine(s) under the Microscope”|http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/mp200394t]].

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The physico-chemical properties and consequent behaviour of a tiny cage of 60 carbon atoms or a compact gold aggregation of a few thousand atoms are far more different that the differences between the necessary Escherichia Coli in the guts or the dangerous Streptococcus Pneumoniae Bacterias. However, both, the carbon and the gold structure, are called nanoparticles. As a 200 nm polymeric sphere loaded with drugs or the 10 nm titanium dioxide embedded in the sunscreens creams. All of them are very different and called the same: nanoparticles. Mainly in mass media, in the headlines, many different materials are called the same, not helping to understand. Thus confusing news simultaneously appear claiming that nanoparticles will cause and will heal cancer. And all that does not help to inform the public and us (as society) to reach appropriate consensus for the efficient and safe development of new technologies . We, all concerned people, should immediately engage in an honest effort to label, describe and characterize the different players (materials, properties, phenomena) of the nanoworld in order to create an adequate ontology to accurately describe the complexity happening at the nanoscale. The physical and chemical properties change when the mater is reduced to the nanometric scale, and therefore its kinetics and thermodynamics. But all those changes happen in a particular way towards a particular direction in any piece of different material. Different by composition, size, shape, number and surface state. One should not think that materials become similar when they reach the nanometric scale. Far from that. The differences between the carbon and the metal increases when they become nanometric. The diversity of properties and behaviour expands at the nanoscale, what is fascinating and, again, remain us the celebrated sentence [[There is Plenty of Room at the Botom|http://www.its.caltech.edu/~feynman/plenty.html]].

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[<img[Dynamic Transmission Electron Microscope|http://www-cmls.llnl.gov/data/assets/images/science_and_technology/materials/dtem/fig2.jpg]] Researchers have achieved a milestone in materials science and electron microscopy by taking a high-resolution snapshot of the transformation of nanoscale structures.

Using the Lab’s [[Dynamic Transmission Electron Microscope (DTEM)|http://www-cmls.llnl.gov/?url=science_and_technology-materials-dtem]], Judy Kim and colleagues peered into the microstructure and properties of reactive multilayer foils with 15-nanosecond-scale resolution.

//Observing short-lived behavior — how a chemical reaction, structural deformation or phase transformation occurs — is not easy, but is key to understanding many of the basic phenomena at the heart of chemistry, biology and materials science//. The ability to directly observe and characterize these complex events leads to a fundamental understanding of properties such as reactivity, stability and strength, and helps in the design of new and improved materials and devices.

Transmission electron microscopy has evolved dramatically in recent years and can spatially resolve microstructural details of phase and structure, but it can’t collect at times less than a millisecond.

That’s where Livermore’s DTEM comes in. It provides scientists with the ability to image transient behavior with ''an unprecedented combination of spatial and temporal resolution: nanometers and nanoseconds''.

Multilayer foils (also known as nanolaminates) are layers of reactant materials that undergo exothermic, self-propagating reactions when layer mixing is caused by an external energy source. The foils show mobile, high-temperature reaction zones where atoms of adjoining layers diffuse across the interfaces. They are used as customized heat sources for rapid fuses, biological neutralization and joining materials via localized heating rather than global device heating. 

Source: [[A snapshot of the transformation of nanoscale structures|https://publicaffairs.llnl.gov/news/news_releases/2008/NR-08-09-02.html]]. The research appears the journal Science, [["Imaging of Transient Structures Using Nanosecond in Situ TEM"|http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sci;321/5895/1472?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=Judy+Kim&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT]]

{{twocolumns{
Scientists who have ''developed a new way to create a type of radiation known as Terahertz (THz) or T-rays'' - the technology behind full-body security scanners - say their new, stronger and more efficient continuous wave T-rays could be used to make better medical scanning gadgets and may one day lead to innovations similar to the “tricorder” scanner used in Star Trek.

Researchers from the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore and Imperial College London in the UK have ''made T-rays into a much stronger directional beam than was previously thought possible and have efficiently produced T-rays at room-temperature conditions''. This breakthrough allows future T-ray systems to be smaller, more portable, easier to operate, and much cheaper.
 
The scientists say that the T-ray scanner and detector could provide part of the functionality of a Star Trek-like medical "tricorder" - a portable sensing, computing and data communications device - since the waves are capable of detecting biological phenomena such as increased blood flow around tumorous growths. Future scanners could also perform fast wireless data communication to transfer a high volume of information on the measurements it makes.
 
T-rays are waves in the far infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum that have a wavelength hundreds of times longer than visible light. Such waves are already in use in airport security scanners, prototype medical scanning devices and in spectroscopy systems for materials analysis. T-rays can sense molecules such as those present in cancerous tumours and living DNA as ''every molecule has its unique signature in the THz range''. T-rays can also be used to detect explosives or drugs, in gas pollution monitoring or non-destructive testing of semiconductor integrated circuit chips. However, the current continuous wave T-rays need to be created under very low temperatures with high energy consumption. Existing medical T-ray imaging devices have only low output power and are very expensive.
 
<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px" src="img/nano-antennas.jpg" title="Optical microscope picture of an antenna structure with the nano-antennas built into its centre (highlighted, left) and the electric field distribution (right)" class="photo"  width="100%"/></html>In the new technique, the researchers demonstrated that it is possible to produce a strong beam of T-rays by shining light of differing wavelengths on a pair of electrodes - two pointed strips of metal separated by a 100 nanometre gap on top of a semiconductor wafer. The unique tip-to-tip nano-sized gap electrode structure greatly enhances the THz field and acts like a nano-antenna that amplifies the THz wave generated. The waves are produced by an interaction between the electromagnetic waves of the light pulses and a powerful current passing between the semiconductor electrodes from the carriers generated in the underlying semiconductor. The scientists are able to tune the wavelength of the T-rays to create a beam that is useable in the scanning technology. Source: From ''[[T-Rays Technology Could Help Develop Star Trek-Style Hand-Held Medical Scanners|http://www.a-star.edu.sg/?TabId=828&articleType=ArticleView&articleId=1591]]''. This work is detailed in the paper [["Greatly enhanced continuous-wave terahertz emission by nano-electrodes in a photoconductive photomixer"|http://www.nature.com/nphoton/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nphoton.2011.322.html]] by H Tanoto, [[JH Teng|http://www.imre.a-star.edu.sg/researcher.php?startlet=&rid=&id=P537W534]], QY Wu, M Sun, ZN Chen, SA Maier, B Wang, CC Chum, GY Si, AJ Danner and SJ Chua.

''related:''
''[[Qualcomm Tricorder X PRIZE|http://www.qualcommtricorderxprize.org/]]''. Disruptive innovation: a competition to change a broken healthcare system
[[A tunable graphene device for putting terahertz light to work]]

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{{twocolumns{
Long-wavelength terahertz light is invisible – it’s at the farthest end of the far infrared – but it’s useful for everything from detecting explosives at the airport to designing drugs to diagnosing skin cancer. Now, for the first time, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California at Berkeley have ''demonstrated a microscale device made of graphene'' – the remarkable form of carbon that’s only one atom thick – ''whose strong response to light at terahertz frequencies can be tuned with exquisite precision''.

<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px" src="img/tunable-THz-plasmons.jpg" title="The graphene microribbon array can be tuned in three ways. Varying the width of the ribbons changes plasmon resonant frequency and absorbs corresponding frequencies of terahertz light. Plasmon response is much stronger when there is a dense concentration of charge carriers (electrons or holes), controlled by varying the top gate voltage. Finally, light polarized perpendicularly to the ribbons is strongly absorbed at the plasmon resonant frequency, while parallel polarization shows no such response" class="photo"  width="100%"/></html>“The heart of our device is an array made of graphene ribbons only millionths of a meter wide,” says Feng Wang of Berkeley Lab’s Materials Sciences Division, who is also an assistant professor of physics at UC Berkeley, and who led the research team. “By varying the width of the ribbons and the concentration of charge carriers in them, we can control the collective oscillations of electrons in the microribbons.”

The name for such collective oscillations of electrons is “plasmons,” a word that sounds abstruse but describes effects as familiar as the glowing colors in stained-glass windows. “Plasmons in high-frequency visible light happen in three-dimensional metal nanostructures,” Wang says. The colors of medieval stained glass, for example, result from oscillating collections of electrons on the surfaces of nanoparticles of gold, copper, and other metals, and depend on their size and shape. “But graphene is only one atom thick, and its electrons move in only two dimensions. In 2D systems, plasmons occur at much lower frequencies.”

The wavelength of terahertz radiation is measured in hundreds of micrometers (millionths of a meter), yet the width of the graphene ribbons in the experimental device is only one to four micrometers each. “A material that consists of structures with dimensions much smaller than the relevant wavelength, and which exhibits optical properties distinctly different from the bulk material, is called a metamaterial,” says Wang. “So we have not only made the ''first studies of light and plasmon coupling in graphene'', we’ve also created a prototype for future graphene-based metamaterials in the terahertz range.” “Terahertz radiation covers a spectral range that’s difficult to work with, because until now there have been no tools,” says Wang. “Now we have the beginnings of a toolset for working in this range, potentially leading to a variety of graphene-based terahertz metamaterials.”

The Berkeley ''experimental setup is only a precursor of devices to come'', which will be able to control the polarization and modify the intensity of terahertz light and enable other optical and electronic components, in applications from medical imaging to astronomy – all in two dimensions. Source: From "[[A Whole New Light on Graphene Metamaterials|http://newscenter.lbl.gov/news-releases/2011/09/04/graphene-thz/]]. Berkeley Lab scientists demonstrate a tunable graphene device, the first tool in a kit for putting terahertz light to work." This work was detailed in the paper [["Graphene plasmonics for tunable terahertz metamaterials”|http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nl201357n]] <<slider chkSldr [[Graphene plasmonics for tunable terahertz metamaterials]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>

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A team of scientists  led by [[Eugenia Kumacheva|http://www.chem.utoronto.ca/staff/EK/]] of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto has ''discovered a way to predict the organization of nanoparticles in larger forms by treating them much the same as ensembles of molecules formed from standard chemical reactions.''

"Currently, no model exists describing the organization of nanoparticles," says [[Kumacheva|http://www.news.utoronto.ca/science-and-technology/uof-ts-kumacheva-first-canadian-woman-ever-chosen-for-prestigious-internati.html]] . "Our work paves the way for the prediction of the properties of nanoparticle ensembles and for the development of new design rules for such structures."

''The focus of nanoscience is gradually shifting from the synthesis of individual nanoparticles to their organization in larger structures. In order to use nanoparticle ensembles in functional devices such as memory storage devices or optical waveguides, it is important to achieve control of their structure.''

According to the researchers' observations, the self-organization of nanoparticles is an efficient strategy for producing nanostructures with complex, hierarchical architectures. "The past decade has witnessed great progress in nanoscience - particularly nanoparticle self-assembly - yet the quantitative prediction of the architecture of nanoparticle ensembles and of the kinetics of their formation remains a challenge," she continues. "We report on the remarkable similarity between the self-assembly of metal nanoparticles and chemical reactions leading to the formation of polymer molecules. The nanoparticles act as multifunctional single units, which form reversible, noncovalent bonds at specific bond angles and organize themselves into a highly ordered polymer."

"We developed a new approach that enables a quantitative prediction of the architecture of linear, branched, and cyclic self-assembled nanostructures, their aggregation numbers and size distribution, and the formation of structural isomers."

"We treated them as molecules, not particles, which in a process resembling a polymerization reaction, organize themselves into polymer-like assemblies," says Kumacheva. "Using this analogy, we used the theory of polymerization and predicted the architecture of the so-called 'molecules' and also found other, unexpected features that can find interesting applications." Source: [[Chemists make breakthrough in nanoscience research|http://www.physorg.com/news198169615.html]]. This work is detailed in the paper [[Step-Growth Polymerization of Inorganic Nanoparticles|http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/329/5988/197]] by Kun Liu, Zhihong Nie, Nana Zhao, Wei Li, [[Michael Rubinstein|http://dl9s6.chem.unc.edu/]], [[Eugenia Kumacheva|http://www.chem.utoronto.ca/ppl/faculty_profile.php?id=31]]

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{{twocolumns{
Scientists have created a working cloaking device that not only takes advantage of one of nature's most bizarre phenomenon, but also boasts unique features; it has an 'on and off' switch and is best used underwater. The researchers, from the University of Texas at Dallas have ''demonstrated the device's ability to make objects disappear in a fascinating video''.

This novel design, makes use of sheets of carbon nanotubes (CNT) – one-molecule-thick sheets of carbon wrapped up into cylindrical tubes. CNTs have such unique properties, such as having the density of air but the strength of steel, that they have been extensively studied and put forward for numerous applications; however it is their exceptional ability to conduct heat and transfer it to surrounding areas that makes them an ideal material to exploit the so-called "mirage effect".

The mirage effect, frequently observed in deserts or on long roads in the summer, is an optical phenomenon in which light rays are bent to produce a displaced image of distant objects or the sky. The most common example of a mirage is when an observer appears to see pools of water on the ground. This occurs because the air near the ground is a lot warmer than the air higher up, causing lights rays to bend upward towards the viewer's eye rather than bounce off the surface. This results in an image of the sky appearing on the ground which the viewer perceives as water actually reflecting the sky; the brain sees this as a more likely occurrence.

Through electrical stimulation, the transparent sheet of highly aligned CNTs can be easily heated to high temperatures. They then have the ability to transfer that heat to its surrounding areas, causing a steep temperature gradient. Just like a mirage, this steep temperature gradient causes the light rays to bend away from the object concealed behind the device, making it appear invisible.

With this method, it is more practical to demonstrate [[cloaking|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloaking_device]] underwater as all of the apparatus can be contained in a petri dish. It is the ease with which the CNTs can be heated that gives the device its unique 'on and off' feature.

Lead-author, Dr Ali Aliev, said, "Using these nanotube sheets, concealment can be realized over the entire optical range and rapidly turned on-and-off at will, using either electrical heating or a pulse of electromagnetic radiation. The research results also provide useful insights into the optimization of nanotube sheets as thermoacoustic projectors for loud speaker and sonar applications, where sound is produced by heating using an alternating electrical current."

An Institute of Physics spokesperson said, "''It is remarkable to see this cloaking device demonstrated in real life and on a workable scale''. The array of applications that could arise from this device, besides cloaking, is a testament to the excellent work of the authors." Source: From ''[['Mirage-effect' helps researchers hide objects|http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-10/iop-hr092911.php]]''. This work was detailed in the paper [["Mirage effect from thermally modulated transparent carbon nanotube sheets”|http://iopscience.iop.org/0957-4484/22/43/435704]].

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~NanoWiki, using Feed Informer and rss2pdf, created this RSS Reader tailored for nanotechnology feeds tracking

{{twocolumns{
''"A definition is required in order to provide increased clarity and consistency with respect to the term nanomaterial for use in regulations laying down provisions on substances."'' ISO TS 27687 Definition for Nano-object- //a material with one, two or three external dimensions in the nanoscale, where nanoscale is defined as the size range from approximately 1 nm to 100 nm//. ICCA Core Elements of a Regulatory Definition of Manufactured Nanomaterials is a document that oultines the key principles that should be taken into consideration for the development of a regulatory definition of manufactured nanomaterials.  Source: [[International Council of Chemical Associations addresses key issues for nanomaterial definition|http://www.icca-chem.org/ICCADocs/Oct-2010_ICCA-Core-Elements-of-a-Regulatory-Definition-of-Manufactured-Nanomaterials.pdf]]

''Responding to the [[EC's consultation document|How much nano do we buy?]] :''

"The lack of an agreed definition creates legal uncertainties as shown in recent finalized or ongoing revision processes of important EU legislation which aims at protecting consumers and the environment. To ensure a coherent approach, we see an urgent need to develop a common definition at EU level. However, ''we propose that the Commission recommendation will not be restricted to the size range of 1- 100nm only and will also take into account the functional properties of nanomaterials''." From the Final ANEC/BEUC Reply to the public consultation on Proposal for a Commission definition of the term "nanomaterial". Source: [[European Comsumers' Organization reply to the European Commission public consultation on nanomaterials|http://www.anec.org/attachments/ANEC-PT-2010-NANO-018final.pdf]]

"The Center for International Environmental Law and the European Environmental Bureau submitted [[proposals to the European Commission for a definition of the term “nanomaterials”|http://www.ciel.org/Publications/Nanomaterials_ReplyForm_Nov10.pdf]]. The NGO proposal welcomes the Commission’s broad definition while warning against a narrowing of the scope in the final decision. ''NGOs favour a larger size range (i.e. 0,3 to 300 nm2) to define nanomaterials to allow the definition to capture as much material as possible about which there is already concern (including fullerenes)''" Source: [[CIEL and the European Environmental Bureau lead international NGO coalition to define nanomaterials|http://www.ciel.org/Chemicals/Nano_22Nov10.html]]

''The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) raises concerns over draft definition of the term 'nanomaterial'''. "The size at which the properties of a material could abruptly change varied widely according to the material and the properties in question. “''There is thus concern over the selection of the single upper size boundary''. For biological materials the measurement of size and size distribution can also be dependent on the sample preparation method and the method used to size the samples.” Meanwhile,'' the way a product was formulated might also affect its classification'', noted the IFST. For example, if individual stabilised nanocrystals were sold as ingredients for colouring foods, they would be classified as nanomaterials, because they are tiny. However, were another ingredient formulated by agglomerating the same nanocrystals into bigger groups, their particle size meant that it would not be classified as a nanomaterial, even though processing it could lead to a free dispersion of its constituent nanoparticles in a food or drink, said the IFST." Source: [[Nano definition raises as many questions as it answers|http://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Regulation/Nano-definition-raises-as-many-questions-as-it-answers]] By Elaine Watson

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The Australian Minister for Education, launch an innovative secondary school resource that will assist science teachers to teach nanotechnology in Australian schools. 

~AccessNano is a unique, cutting-edge ''nanotechnology educational resource'' designed to introduce accessible and innovative science and technology into Australian secondary school classrooms. We hope that ~AccessNano provides you with a fresh new approach to teaching science in your school, as well as stimulating new ideas and opening pathways for Australian careers in nanotechnology for your students.

The [[Australian Office of Nanotechnology|http://www.nanotechnology.gov.au/]] developed ~AccessNano following feedback from science teachers that children were asking to be taught about nanotechnology, but many teachers did not have the knowledge or resources to be able to teach the topic.

Source: [[AccessNano|http://www.accessnano.org/]]

/%
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Are you curious how I managed to get the scrollbars from being visible in these iframes? Just put your iframe into a containing div with the css style of "overflow:hidden;" and fix the width and height parameters to suit your needs. Here's the css code applied for the AccuRadio iframes:
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The idea for [[this tiddlywiki|http://mjuzik.tiddlyspot.com]] grew, when I wanted to share the music I love with all you folks. It became this self contained thing after a bit of tiddly-fiddling with one of the master in the tiddliverse... Eric Shulman.@@
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{{twocolumns{
How noisy is a walking flea? What sorts of sound waves are caused by motile bacteria? Physicists at the Nanosystems Initiative Munich (NIM) have managed for the first time to detect sound waves at such minuscule length scales. Their nanoear is a single gold nanoparticle that is kept in a state of levitation by a laser beam. Upon weak acoustic excitation the particle oscillates parallel to the direction of sound propagation. The scientists led by Dr. Andrey Lutich, who is a member of [[Prof. Jochen Feldmann’s group at LMU Munich|http://www.phog.physik.uni-muenchen.de/]], managed to detect such tiny displacements using a dark-field microscope and an ordinary video camera. ''The nanoear is capable of detecting sound levels of approximately -60 dB. Thus, it is about a million times more sensitive than the hearing threshold of the human ear'', which by convention is set at 0 dB.

<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px" src="img/nanoear.png" title="Trapped gold nanoparticle (left) acts as nanoear. In a water drop, an aggregate of gold nanoparticles is heated by a green laser. As a consequence, sound waves are emitted which displace a nearby single nanoparticle that is kept in levitation by a red laser (Credit: Ohlinger et al.)" class="photo"  width="50%"/></html>The new method realized by the Munich physicists opens a new world to scientists: for the first time, otherwise imperceptibly weak motions – minuscule sound waves – can be visualized. The scientists developed the nanoear in two stages. “First, we validated the basic principle using a relatively strong sound source” group leader Andrey Lutich explains. “In the second step we were able to detect significantly weaker acoustic excitations.” The main element in both cases is a gold nanoparticle, 60 nm in diameter, which is kept in levitation by a so-called optical trap using a red laser. Each of the experiments was done in a small water drop on a cover slide.

''“With our nanoear, we have developed a nanomicrophone that allows us to get closer than ever to microscopic objects”'' Alexander Ohlinger, first author of the publication, explains. “By observing the oscillations of a single gold nanoparticle, tiny movements can be detected.” In this way, the nanoear could yield important information on the minute motions of cells, cell organelles or artificial microscopic objects. Additionally, no high-end devices are necessary as only well-established methods are used. Source: From [[A nanoear to listen into the silence|http://www.nano-initiative-munich.de/en/news/news/article/1/a-nanoear-to-listen-into-the-s/]]. Gold nanoparticles detect tiny acoustic vibrations. The research is detailed in the paper ''[[“Optically Trapped Gold Nanoparticle Enables Listening at the Microscale”|http://prl.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v108/i1/e018101]]'' by Alexander Ohlinger, Andras Deak, Andrey A. Lutich, and Jochen Feldmann.

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One expect that engineered inorganic nanoparticles have customized multiple and particular functionalities to interact in a precisse manner with its environment either generating energy or delivering drugs, but it will be even better when ''the nanoparticles can in addition of transforming the environment to be -reversively and univocally- transformed by it''. The anticipated, expected and observed ''transient nature of nanoparticles'' will open exciting ways of dealing with matter at the molecular level. [[Researches observed|http://www.als.lbl.gov/als/science/sci_archive/179nanoparticle-catalyst.html]] that Heterogeneous catalysts that contain bimetallic nanoparticles underwent dramatic and reversible changes in composition and chemical state in response to oxidizing or reducing conditions. In the case of [[Rh-Pd nanoparticles|http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/1164170]] the metals migrated alternatively to the surface of the particle in response to the environment.

''Background:'' [[Secret Lives of Catalysts Revealed]]

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[[Dr. Robert Langer|http://web.mit.edu/langerlab/langer.html]] is institute professor, chemical and biomedical engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "//Robert Langer is the foremost pioneer and innovator in modern drug delivery//," says John Sterling, ~Editor-in-Chief of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News. "[[Dr. Langer|http://nanowiki.info/index.html#%5B%5BGroundbreakers%20in%20the%20field%20of%20Nanotechnology%20worldwide%5D%5D]] and his team continue to advance research and development on novel biomaterials and tissue- engineered products. They are constantly pushing the technology envelope for new ways to deliver biodrugs and pharmaceuticals."

[[Interview with Robert Langer|http://www.genengnews.com/genCasts.aspx?id=198]]. This podcast ''on New Polymeric Drug Delivery Systems'' is imperative for researchers and biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device executives whose companies are engaged in drug discovery and development, as well as market makers, analysts, and investors who must be knowledgeable about the challenges and directions in therapeutic delivery.

Source: [[Advances in drug delivery and tissue engineering|http://www.genengnews.com/genCasts.aspx?id=198]]
^^Via [[Joan Esteve|http://www.ub.edu/gcfes/index_es.htm]], [[Victor Puntes|Victor Puntes]]^^

Stained glass windows that are painted with gold purify the air when they are lit up by sunlight, a team of Queensland University of Technology experts have discovered. Associate Professor [[Zhu Huai Yong|http://www.sci.qut.edu.au/about/staff/physchem/chem/zhuh.jsp]] said that //glaziers in medieval forges were the first nanotechnologists who produced colours with gold nanoparticles of different sizes//. Professor Zhu said numerous church windows across Europe were decorated with glass coloured in gold nanoparticles. "For centuries people appreciated only the beautiful works of art, and long life of the colours, but little did they realise that these works of art are also, in modern language, ''photocatalytic air purifier with nanostructured gold catalyst''," Professor Zhu said.

He said tiny particles of gold, energised by the sun, were able to destroy air-borne pollutants like volatile organic chemical (~VOCs), which may often come from new furniture, carpets and paint in good condition. "These ~VOCs create that 'new' smell as they are slowly released from walls and furniture, but they, along with methanol and carbon monoxide, are not good for your health, even in small amounts," he said.

"Gold, when in very small particles, becomes very active under sunlight. The electromagnetic field of the sunlight can couple with the oscillations of the electrons in the gold particles and creates a resonance [[[surface plasmon resonance|http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Nanotechnology/Nanometals]]]. The magnetic field on the surface of the gold nanoparticles can be enhanced by up to hundred times, which breaks apart the pollutant molecules in the air." Professor Zhu said the by-product was carbon dioxide, which was comparatively safe, particularly in the small amounts that would be created through this process.

He said ''the use of gold [[nanoparticles]] to drive chemical reactions'' opened up exciting possibilities for scientific research. //"This technology is solar-powered, and is very energy efficient, because only the particles of gold heat up," he said. "In conventional chemical reactions, you heat up everything, which is a waste of energy. Once this technology can be applied to produce specialty chemicals at ambient temperature, it heralds significant changes in the economy and environmental impact of the chemical production."//

Source: [[Air-purifying church windows early nanotechnology|http://www.news.qut.edu.au/cgi-bin/WebObjects/News.woa/wa/goNewsPage?newsEventID=19841]]. Findings have been published in a recent edition of Angewandte Chemie International: [[Visible-Light-Driven Oxidation of Organic Contaminants in Air with Gold Nanoparticle Catalysts on Oxide Supports|http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1002/anie.200800602]].

[<img[the special paving stone in a lab of the Twente University|http://www.terradaily.com/images/air-purifying-concrete-afp-bg.jpg]] As of April 2008, [[Jos Brouwers|http://www.cme.ctw.utwente.nl/organisatie/Persoonlijke%20websites/Jos%20Brouwers.doc/index.html]] with a post-doc (Dr. M. Ballari) has started a 2-year project concerning the full-scale demonstration of 500 m2 air-purifying (~DeNOx) stones in a street in Hengelo. [[The municipality of Hengelo and the University of Twente|http://www.hengelo.nl/smartsite.dws?menu=8698&channel=INT&ch=INT&id=65390&hl=Castorweg]] (UT) are paving a test road section in Hengelo with air-purifying stones. The top layer of the concrete stones converts nitrogen oxide from exhaust fumes into harmless nitrates.

Car exhaust fumes contain nitrogen oxides (~NOx). Nitrogen oxides cause acid rain and smog. This problem can be partly solved by using [[air-purifying|air]] paving stones. The top layer of the paving stones is made of [[air-purifying concrete|http://www.tudelft.nl/live/pagina.jsp?id=05922daf-ecd9-4098-8b64-8dd2373e6ac6&lang=nl&binary=/doc/13-05%20High-tech%20concrete.pdf]]. This concrete contains titanium dioxide, a photocatalytic material which uses sunlight to convert the nitrogen oxides in the air into harmless nitrates. The rain then washes the streets clean.

Based on a [[Japanese invention|http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2223985/dutch-debut-pollution-eating]], the stones were further developed and their effectiveness demonstrated by the UT in its concrete research laboratory. The next step now is to test the stones in practice. The municipality of Hengelo has made the Castorweg location available for this purpose. The street will be divided into two sections, one half will be paved with conventional stones and the other half with air-purifying ones. The air quality will then be measured in each section to test the effectiveness of the stones. As an added bonus, the stones repel dirt and therefore always stay clean.

The location in Hengelo was chosen because of the volume of cars and the fact that the road is being reconstructed. The local air quality is currently well within the norm.

This trial is being carried out with stone producer [[Struyk Verwo Infra|http://www.struykverwo.nl/]]. As part of its ‘Effective Sustainability’ programme the province of Overijssel has granted a subsidy for the project. The province of Overijssel sees these stones as a good future opportunity for improving the air quality at places where the norms are not met. The demonstration project also has national significance.

The road reconstruction is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Measurements will then start early next year, with the first test results expected around the summer of 2009.

Source: [[Air-purifying paving stones on trial|http://www.utwente.nl/en/news/2008/august/66780%20UT%20PB%20Straatstenen%20(Engels).doc/]]. See also [[The European-Japanese Initiative on Photocatalytic Applications and Commercialization|http://www.ejipac.de/]]
^^Via [[Victor Puntes|Victor Puntes]]^^

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A groundbreaking poll (Risks and Benefits of Nanotechnology & Synthetic Biology) finds that //almost half of U.S. adults have heard nothing about nanotechnology, and nearly nine in 10 Americans say they have heard just a little or nothing at all about the emerging field of synthetic biology//, according to a new report released by the [[Project on Emerging Technologies|http://www.nanotechproject.org/about/mission/]] and [[Peter D. Hart Research|http://www.nanotechproject.org/multimedia/flash/focus3/garin/garin.html]]. Both technologies involve manipulating matter at an incredibly small scale to achieve something new.

This ''new insight into limited public awareness of emerging technologies'' comes as a major leadership change is about to take hold in the nation's capital. Public policy experts are concerned, regardless of party, that //the federal government is behind the curve in engaging citizens on the potential benefits and risks posed by technologies that could have a significant impact on society//.

"Early in the administration of the next president, //scientists are expected to take the next major step toward the creation of synthetic forms of life//. Yet the results from the first U.S. telephone poll about synthetic biology show that most adults have heard just a little or nothing at all about it," says PEN Director David Rejeski. The poll findings are contained in the report, [[The American Public's Awareness Of And Perceptions About Potential Risks and Benefits of Nanotechnology & Synthetic Biology|http://www.nanotechproject.org/mint/pepper/tillkruess/downloads/tracker.php?url=http%3A//www.nanotechproject.org/process/assets/files/7040/final-synbioreport.pdf]].

//Synthetic biology is the use of advanced science and engineering to construct or re-design living organisms–like bacteria–so that they can carry out specific functions. This emerging technology is likely to develop rapidly in the coming years, much as nanotechnology did in the last decade//.

//At the same time, the poll found that about half of adults say they have heard nothing at all about nanotechnology. About 50 percent of adults are too unsure about nanotechnology to make an initial judgment on the possible tradeoffs between benefits and risks. Of those people who are willing to make an initial judgment, they think benefits will outweigh risks by a three to one margin when compared to those who believe risks will outweigh benefits. The plurality of respondents, however, believes that risks and benefits will be about equal. A major industry forecasting firm determined that last year nanotech goods in the global marketplace totaled $147 billion.//

According to the poll, ''the level of U.S. public awareness about nanotechnology has not changed measurably since 2004'' when Hart Research conducted the first poll on the topic on behalf of the PEN.

Source: [[Poll: Risks and Benefits of Nanotechnology & Synthetic Biology|http://www.nanotechproject.org/news/archive/synbio_poll/]]

“Information about the toxicity of nanoparticles is important in determining how nanoparticles will be regulated. In the U.S., the burden of collecting this information and conducting risk assessment is placed on regulatory agencies without the budgetary means to carry out this mandate. In this paper, we analyze the impact of testing costs on society’s ability to gather information about nanoparticle toxicity and whether such costs can reasonably be borne by an emerging industry. We show for the United States that costs for testing existing nanoparticles ranges from $249 million for optimistic assumptions about nanoparticle hazards (i.e., they are primarily safe and mainly require simpler screening assays) to $1.18 billion for a more comprehensive precautionary approach (i.e., all nanomaterials require long-term in vivo testing). At midlevel estimates of total corporate R&D spending, and assuming plausible levels of spending on hazard testing, the time taken to complete testing is likely to be very high (34-53 years) if all existing nanomaterials are to be thoroughly tested. These delays will only increase with time as new nanomaterials are introduced. The delays are considerably less if less-stringent yet risk-averse perspectives are used. Our results support a tiered risk-assessment strategy similar to the EU’s REACH legislation for regulating toxic chemicals.” Source: [[The Impact of Toxicity Testing Costs on Nanomaterial Regulation|http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es802388s]] by ~Jae-Young Choi, Gurumurthy Ramachandran and Milind Kandlikar.

Apparently, there is no way out for this situation other than take risks. However, we could imagine another and more peaceful scenario where companies delay the aggressive and competitive commercialization of advanced products containing nanostructures until enough scientific knowledge is gathered and matured. This may take long time, I do not thing that so much, however, even if we work for the next generation, will not they be our sons? Is not that better than just contaminate the world until things like fertility is challenged and mankind enter into a decline? Why companies are selling while scientist are still wondering about the impact of nanotechnology?

Off course, it is very different to uncontrolledly disperse antibiotic nanoparticles with underwear, than using nanoparticles in critical cases in therapies or diagnosis in a controlled environment (like and hospital) applied by specialists s(as doctors).

What we have to do is very simple, that we will be able to do despite ourselves is another question.

Related news list by date, most recent first: <<matchTags popup sort:-created nanotoxicology>><<matchTags popup sort:-created concerns>><<matchTags popup sort:-created [[Victor Puntes]]>>

Just as artists at Disney and Pixar Animation Studios bring Mickey Mouse, Shrek and Nemo to life, life science artists are using animation to bring viruses, bacteria and even nanowires to life and demystify scientific concepts.

Life science animators from Purdue Research Park-based [[Seyet LLC|http://www.seyet.com/]] recently used their video talents to demonstrate how silicon nanowires form, a process that may change the way computers and consumer electronics are manufactured. Seyet's video provides people who don't have a medical or scientific background a "visual story" of how such complicated organisms or human-designed technologies operate.

"Scientific research is becoming increasingly complex, At the same time, it is important that researchers clearly communicate new discoveries to the public," said Jon Kevan, director of research and design for Seyet LLC, a visual communication company. "The animation of the nanowires demonstrates how a silicon nanowire can 'nucleate,' or begin to form on the way to becoming wires."

Seyet specializes in ''translating difficult-to-grasp scientific concepts and processes into the highly accurate animated forms now demanded by specialized scientific- and technology-focused audiences, as well as regulatory agencies''.

"For example, ''a National Science Foundation grant is reviewed first on intellectual merit and second on 'broader impacts,'''" Kevan said. "Seyet's animations can help fulfill the second criteria for those broader impacts in an innovative way."

A recent video animation was designed for a research discovery by Eric Stach, a Purdue University assistant professor of materials engineering. The video describes his work with an instrument called a transmission electron microscope, which shows [[how nanowires develop|http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2008b/081113StachNanowires.html]]. The research is based at IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center, and at Purdue's Birck Nanotechnology Center in the university's Discovery Park.

Stach published a paper on his research that appeared in the journal Science this month. It is the first time researchers have made such precise measurements of the nucleation process in nanowires, Stach said."This is very complicated science, and showing people how it works is a tremendous help in understanding it," Kevan said. "The demand for new discoveries like Eric Stach's is great, as is the need to explain, in a non-scientific way, their meaning to the public." Stach's research is funded by the NSF's Electronic Materials Division.

''Translating data into visual images, such as showing how nanowires grow, may help researchers secure funding from government and other sources'', such as the National Institutes for Health, the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Education.

Source: [[Animation demystifies complex science; brings nanotechnology to life|http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2008b/081118SeyetGraphic.html]]

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<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px" src="img/antenna.jpg" title="Ultra-wideband antenna. Credit: Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering" class="photo"  width="100%"/></html>Researchers have discovered a way to capture and harness energy transmitted by such sources as radio and television transmitters, cell phone networks and satellite communications systems. By scavenging this ambient energy from the air around us, the technique could provide a new way to power networks of wireless sensors, microprocessors and communications chips.

''"There is a large amount of electromagnetic energy all around us, but nobody has been able to tap into it,"'' said Manos Tentzeris, a professor in the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering who is leading the research. "We are using an ultra-wideband antenna that lets us exploit a variety of signals in different frequency ranges, giving us greatly increased power-gathering capability."

Tentzeris and his team are ''using inkjet printers to combine sensors, antennas and energy-scavenging capabilities on paper or flexible polymers''. The resulting self-powered wireless sensors could be used for chemical, biological, heat and stress sensing for defense and industry; radio-frequency identification (RFID) tagging for manufacturing and shipping, and monitoring tasks in many fields including communications and power usage.

Communications devices transmit energy in many different frequency ranges, or bands. The team's scavenging devices can capture this energy, convert it from AC to DC, and then store it in capacitors and batteries. The scavenging device could be used by itself or in tandem with other generating technologies. For example, scavenged energy could assist a solar element to charge a battery during the day. At night, when solar cells don't provide power, scavenged energy would continue to increase the battery charge or would prevent discharging.

To print electrical components and circuits, the Georgia Tech researchers use a standard-materials inkjet printer. However, they add what Tentzeris calls "a unique in-house recipe" containing silver nanoparticles and/or other nanoparticles in an emulsion. This approach enables the team to print not only RF components and circuits, but also novel sensing devices based on such nanomaterials as carbon nanotubes.

The researchers believe that self-powered, wireless paper-based sensors will soon be widely available at very low cost. Source: From ''[[Ambient Electromagnetic Energy Harnessed for Small Electronic Devices|http://www.ece.gatech.edu/media/news/release.php?nid=68714]]''.

''Related news'' list by date, most recent first:<<matchTags popup sort:-created nanoparticles>> <<matchTags popup sort:-created [[carbon nanotubes]]>><<matchTags popup sort:-created energy>>
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{{twocolumns{
University of Toronto researchers have derived inspiration from the photosynthetic apparatus in plants to engineer a new generation of nanomaterials that control and direct the energy absorbed from light.

The U of T researchers, led by Professors Shana Kelley and Ted Sargent, ''report the construction of what they term “artificial molecules.”''

“Nanotechnologists have for many years been captivated by quantum dots - particles of semiconductor that can absorb and emit light efficiently, and at custom-chosen wavelengths,” explained co-author Kelley, a professor at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, the Department of Biochemistry in the Faculty of Medicine, and the Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Arts and Science. “What the community has lacked - until now - is a strategy to build higher-order structures, or complexes, out of multiple different types of quantum dots. This discovery fills that gap.”

The team ''combined its expertise in DNA and in semiconductors to invent a generalized strategy to bind certain classes of nanoparticles to one another''.

“The credit for this remarkable result actually goes to DNA: its high degree of specificity - its willingness to bind only to a complementary sequence - enabled us to build rationally-engineered, designer structures out of nanomaterials,” said Sargent, a professor in The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Canada Research Chair in Nanotechnology. “The amazing thing is that our antennas built themselves - we coated different classes of nanoparticles with selected sequences of DNA, combined the different families in one beaker and nature took its course. The result is a beautiful new set of self-assembled materials with exciting properties.”

''Traditional antennas increase the amount of an electromagnetic wave - such as a radio frequency - that is absorbed, and then funnel that energy to a circuit. The U of T nanoantennas instead increased the amount of light that is absorbed and funneled it to a single site within their molecule-like complexes''. This concept is already used in nature in light harvesting antennas, constituents of leaves that make photosynthesis efficient. “Like the antennas in radios and mobile phones, our complexes captured dispersed energy and concentrated it to a desired location. Like the light harvesting antennas in the leaves of a tree, our complexes do so using wavelengths found in sunlight,” explained Sargent.

“What this work shows is that our capacity to manipulate materials at the nanoscale is limited only by human imagination. If semiconductor quantum dots are artificial atoms, then we have rationally synthesized artificial molecules from these versatile building blocks,” said Kelley.

Source: From [[U of T researchers build antenna for light|http://www.news.utoronto.ca/science-and-technology/u-of-t-researchers-build-antenna-for-light.html]]. Work informed by photosynthesis by Jef Ekins. This work was detailed in the paper ''[[“DNA-based programming of quantum dot valency, self-assembly and luminescence”|http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nnano.2011.100.html]]''<<slider chkSldr [[DNA-based programming of quantum dot valency, self-assembly and luminescence]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>

''Related news'' list by date, most recent first: <<matchTags popup sort:-created nanomaterial>><<matchTags popup sort:-created self-assembly>><<matchTags popup sort:-created [[quantum dots]]>><<matchTags popup sort:-created [[dna nanotechnology]]>><<matchTags popup sort:-created photosynthesis>><<matchTags popup sort:-created energy>>
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{{twocolumns{
Interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, cross-disciplinary, intermedia, transmedia, and multimedia are becoming ever more prominent within the sciences, technology, and arts. These new ways of conceiving knowledge and its products creates opportunities and confusion about objectives. To stimulate discussion about where new arts and sciences should intersect, we propose an overarching synthesis we call “ArtScience” <html><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Siler" title="Siler, TS. Breaking the Mind Barrier. Simon and Schuster, 1990; Siler, TS. Think Like A Genius. Bantam Books, 1996">(1)</a></html>. ArtScience integrates all human knowledge through the processes of invention and exploration <html><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Root-Bernstein" title="Root-Bernstein RS & MM. Sparks of Genius. Houghton Mifflin, 1999">(2)</a></html>. It is both new and old; conservative and revolutionary; playful and serious. It enfolds the work of such liminal figures as Etienne Jules Marey, Loie Fuller, Harold “Doc” Edgerton, Alexander Calder, Lejaren Hiller, John Cage, Gerald Oster, Frank Malina, Lillian Schwartz, Buckminster Fuller, Gyorgy Kepes, and Piotr Kowalski, yet it proffers an infinite variety of future possibilities. ArtScience will move art out of galleries and museums, science from its laboratories and journals, into newly invented spaces and places, such as MIT’s Media Lab <html><a href="http://www.media.mit.edu/" title="Brand, S. Inventing the Future at MIT. Penguin Books, 1988">(3)</a></html>, La Laboratoire in Paris <html><a href="http://www.lelaboratoire.org/" title="Edwards D. ArtScience. Creativity in the Post-Google Generation. Harvard University Press, 2009">(4)</a></html>, SymbioticA in Perth <html><a href="http://www.symbiotica.uwa.edu.au/" title="SymbioticA">(5)</a></html>, and Harvard University’s Initiative for Innovative Computing (IIC) <html><a href="http://iic.seas.harvard.edu/" title="Initiative for Innovative Computing (IIC)">(6)</a></html>, which already do scientific exploration, engineering, design, and artistic display in a single space. Other novel venues will be invented. In that inventiveness lies the excitement of ArtScience.

''ArtScience Manifesto:''
1)  Everything can be understood through art but that understanding is incomplete. 
2)  Everything can be understood through science but that understanding is incomplete. 
3)  ArtScience enables us to achieve a more complete and universal understanding of things. 
4)  ArtScience involves understanding the human experience of nature through the synthesis
of artistic and scientific modes of exploration and expression. 
5)  ArtScience melds subjective, sensory, emotional, and personal understanding with objective, analytical, rational, public understanding. 
6)  ArtScience embodies the convergence of artistic and scientific processes and skills, not from their products. 
7)  ArtScience is not Art + Science or Art-and-Science or Art/Science, in which the components retain their disciplinary distinctions and compartmentalization. 
8)  ArtScience transcends and integrates all disciplines or forms of knowledge. 
9)  One who practices ArtScience is both an Artist and a Scientist simultaneously, and one who produces things that are both artistic and scientific simultaneously. 
10)  Every major artistic advance, technological breakthrough, scientific discovery, and medical innovation since the beginning of civilization has resulted from the process of ArtScience. 
11)  Every major inventor and innovator in history was an ArtScience practitioner. 
12)  We must teach Art, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics as integrated disciplines, not separately. 
13)  We must create curricula based in the history, philosophy, and practice of ArtScience, using best practices in experiential learning. 
14)  The vision of ArtScience is the re-humanization of all knowledge. 
15)  The mission of ArtScience is the re-integration of all knowledge. 
16)  The goal of ArtScience is to cultivate a New Renaissance.
17)  The objective of ArtScience is to inspire open-mindedness, curiosity, creativity, imagination, critical thinking, problem solving, and innovation through innovation and collaboration!

ArtScience, in sum, connects. The future of humanity and civil society depend on these connections. ArtScience is a new way to explore culture, society, human experience, that is synaesthetic experience integrated with analytical exploration. It is knowing, analyzing, experiencing and feeling simultaneously.

//“The acute problems of the world can be solved only by whole men [and women], not by people who refuse to be, publicly, anything more than a technologist, or a pure scientist, or an artist. In the world of today, you have got to be everything or you are going to be nothing.”// <html><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_Hal_Waddington" title="Waddington CH. Biology and the History of the Future. Edinburgh University Press, 1972, p. 360">(7)</a></html> Conrad Hal Waddington, biologist, philosopher, artist, and historian. <html><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_Hal_Waddington" title="Waddington CH. Behind Appearance. A Study of the relations between painting and the natural sciences in this century. Edinburgh University Press, 1969">(8)</a></html>

Signed,
Bob Root-Bernstein  http://www.msu.edu/~rootbern 
Todd Siler http://www.toddsilerart.com/
Adam Brown http://adamwbrown.net 
Kenneth Snelson http://www.kennethsnelson.net/

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See also [[Nano and art: Leonardo/ISAST cooperation with NanoWiki]]
}}}

Researchers develop first models for producing polymer-based artificial cells capable of self-organizing, performing tasks, and transporting “cargo,” from chemicals to medicine. Inspired by the social interactions of ants and slime molds, University of Pittsburgh engineers have designed artificial cells capable of self-organizing into independent groups that can communicate and cooperate. ''The research is a significant step toward producing synthetic cells that behave like natural organisms and could perform important, microscale functions in fields ranging from the chemical industry to medicine.''

The team presents computational models that provide a blueprint for developing artificial cells—or microcapsules—that can communicate, move independently, and transport “cargo” such as chemicals needed for reactions. Most importantly, the “biologically inspired” devices function entirely through simple physical and chemical processes, behaving like complex natural organisms but without the complicated internal biochemistry, said the researcher [[Anna Balazs|http://www.engr.pitt.edu/chemical/facstaff/balazs.html]], Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering in Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering.

The Pitt group’s ''microcapsules interact by secreting nanoparticles in a way similar to that used by biological cells signal to communicate and assemble into groups''. And with a nod to ants, the cells leave chemical trails as they travel, prompting fellow microcapsules to follow. Balazs worked with German Kolmakov and Victor Yashin, both postdoctoral researchers in Pitt’s Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, who produced the cell models; and with Pitt professor of electrical and computer engineering [[Steven Levitan|http://kona.ee.pitt.edu/steve/]], who devised the ant-like trailing ability.

The researchers write that communication hinges on the interaction between microcapsules exchanging two different types of nanoparticles. The “signaling” cell secretes nanoparticles known as agonists that prompt the second “target” microcapsule to emit nanoparticles known as antagonists. [[Video of this interaction|http://www.pitt.edu/news2010/CellTalk.wmv]] is available on Pitt’s Web site, one of several videos of the artificial cells Pitt has provided.

Locomotion results as the released nanoparticles alter the surface underneath the microcapsules. The cell’s polymer-based walls begin to push on the fluid surrounding the capsule and the fluid pushes back even harder, moving the capsule. At the same time, the nanoparticles from the signaling cell pull it toward the target cells. Groups of capsules begin to form as the signaling cell rolls along, picking up target cells. In practical use, Balazs said, the signaling cell could transport target cells loaded with cargo; the team’s next step is to control the order in which target cells are collected and dropped off.

The researchers adjusted the particle output of the signaling cell to create various cell formations, some of which are shown in the videos available on Pitt’s Web site. Source: [[Pitt Team Designs Artificial Cells That Communicate and Cooperate Like Biological Cells, Follow Each Other Like Ants|http://www.news.pitt.edu/news/pitt-team-designs-artificial-cells-communicate-and-cooperate-biological-cells-follow-each-othe-0]]. This work is detailed in the paper ''[[Designing communicating colonies of biomimetic microcapsules|http://www.pnas.org/content/107/28/12417.abstract?sid=fcd7e4c5-0900-4934-9f48-6fab2940e077]]'' by German V. Kolmakov, Victor V. Yashin, Steven P. Levitan, and Anna C. Balazs.

Related news list by date, most recent first: <<matchTags popup sort:-created nanoparticles>>

{{twocolumns{
Cilia, tiny hair-like structures that perform feats such as clearing microscopic debris from the lungs and determining the correct location of organs during development, move in mysterious ways. Their beating motions are synchronized to produce metachronal waves, similar in appearance to “the wave” created in large arenas when audience members use their hands to produce a pattern of movement around the entire stadium.

Due to the importance of ciliary functions for health, there is great interest in understanding the mechanism that controls the cilias’ beating patterns. But learning exactly how cilia movement is coordinated has been challenging.

That may be beginning to change as a result of the creation, by a team of Brandeis researchers, of artificial cilia-like structures that dramatically offers a new approach for cilia study. Associate Professor of Physics [[Zvonimir Dogic|http://www.brandeis.edu/departments/physics/people/faculty/dogic.html]] and colleagues present ''the first example of a simple microscopic system that self-organizes to produce cilia-like beating patterns''. 

“We’ve shown that there is a new approach toward studying the beating,” says Dogic. “Instead of deconstructing the fully functioning structure, we can start building complexity from the ground up.”

The complexity of these structures presents a major challenge as each cilium contains more than 600 different proteins.  For this reason, most previous studies of cilia have employed a top-down approach, attempting to study the beating mechanism by deconstructing the fully functioning structures through the systematic elimination of individual components.

The interdisciplinary team consisted of physics graduate student Timothy Sanchez and biochemistry graduate student David Welch who worked with biologist [[Daniela Nicastro|http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/faculty/nicastro.html]] and Dogic. Their experimental system was comprised of three main components: microtubule filaments — tiny hollow cylinders found in both animal and plant cells, motor proteins called kinesin, which consume chemical fuel to move along microtubules and a bundling agent that induces assembly of filaments into bundles. 

Sanchez and colleagues found that under a particular set of conditions these very simple components spontaneously organize into active bundles that beat in a periodic manner. In addition to observing the beating of isolated bundles, the researchers were also able to assemble a dense field of bundles that spontaneously synchronized their beating patterns into traveling waves. 

''Self-organizing processes of many kinds have recently become a focus of the physics community''.  These processes range in scale from microscopic cellular functions and swarms of bacteria to macroscopic phenomena such as flocking of birds and traffic jams. Since controllable experiments with birds, crowds at football stadiums and traffic are virtually impossible to conduct, the experiments described by Sanchez and colleagues could serve as a model for testing a broad range of theoretical predictions.

In addition, the reproduction of such an essential biological functionality in a simple system will be of great interest to the fields of cellular and evolutionary biology, Dogic says. The findings also open a door for the development of one of the major goals of nanotechnology — to design an object that’s capable of swimming independently.

The Dogic lab is currently planning refinements to the system to study these topics in greater depth. Source: [[Brandeis lab's artificial cilia spur new thinking in nanotechnology|http://www.brandeis.edu/now/2011/july/cilia.html]]. One step closer to learning how cilia movement is coordinated. This work was detailed in the paper ''[[Cilia-Like Beating of Active Microtubule Bundles|http://www.sciencemag.org/content/333/6041/456.abs]]''<<slider chkSldr [[Cilia-Like Beating of Active Microtubule Bundles]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>

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"The Nobelprize.org YouTube channel is currently dedicated to questions and answers series called [["Ask a Nobel Laureate."|http://www.youtube.com/thenobelprize#p/p]]

Our fourth Nobel Laureate to participate is Harry Kroto, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 1996 awarded together with Robert F. Curl Jr. and Richard E. Smalley [["for their discovery of fullerenes"|C60: Buckminsterfullerene]], called C60, a remarkable molecule composed of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a soccer-ball-like pattern. Ask as many questions as you like and don't forget to vote for your favorite question to get answered. Deadline for submission is 4 September 2010. Answers from Harry Kroto will be posted at the end of September." Source: [[Ask a Nobel Laureate, Sir Harry Kroto|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vh8PQXC9po&feature=player_embedded]]

''[[Ask a Nobel Laureate: Answers from Sir Harry Kroto|http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=222AA1DB5CB24A88]]'' by thenobelprize. Sir Harry Kroto, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 1996, has answered a selection of your video and text questions from YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, sharing his thoughts on the discovery of C60 in space, science and religion, tennis racquets and the future of carbon chemistry.

''Related news'' list by date, most recent first: <<matchTags popup sort:-created dissemination>><<matchTags popup sort:-created fullerene>><<matchTags popup sort:-created astronomy>><<matchTags popup sort:-created video>>

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While pondering the challenges of distinguishing one nano-sized probe image from another in a mass of hundreds or thousands of nanoprobes, researchers made an interesting observation. ''The tiny, clustered dots of light looked a lot like a starry sky on a clear night''.

The biomedical researchers realized that astronomers had already made great strides in solving a problem very similar to their own — isolating and analyzing one dot (in this case a star) in a crowded field of light. They hypothesized that a computer system designed for stellar photometry, a branch of astronomy focused on measuring the brightness of stars, could hold the solution to their problem.

Now, Georgia Tech and Emory ''researchers have created a technology based on stellar photometry software that provides more precise images of single molecules tagged with NanoProbes, particles specially designed to bind with a certain type of cell or molecule and illuminate when the target is found''. The clearer images allow researchers to collect more detailed information about a single molecule, such as how the molecule is binding in a gene sequence, taking scientists a few steps closer to truly personalized and predictive medicine as well as more complex biomolecular structural mapping.

In addition to biomedical applications, the system could be used to clarify other types of nanoparticle probes, including tagged particles or molecules.

''“This work is pointing to a new era in light microscopy in which single molecule detection is achieved at nanometer resolution,”'' said Dr. Shuming Nie, a professor of biomedical engineering and chemistry and also the director of the ~Emory-Georgia Tech Cancer Nanotechnology Center.'' “This is also an example of interdisciplinary research in which advanced computing meets nanotechnology''. I envision major applications not only for single-molecule imaging, but also for ultrasensitive medical diagnostics.”

Source: [[Astronomy Technology Brings Nanoparticle Probes into Sharper Focus|http://www.gatech.edu/newsroom/release.html?id=1728]]

{{twocolumns{
Nanoparticles are atmospheric materials so small that they can’t be seen with the naked eye, but they can very visibly affect both weather patterns and human health all over the world – and not in a good way, according to a study by a team of researchers at Texas A&M University.

Researchers say that nanoparticles appear to be growing in many parts of the world, but how they do so remains a mystery.

The team looked at ''how nanoparticles are formed and their relationship with certain organic vapors responsible for additional growth. “This is one of the most poorly understood of all atmospheric processes,”'' Zhang says. “But we found that certain types of organics tend to grow very rapidly. When this happens, they scatter light back into space, and that definitely has a cooling effect – sort of a reverse ‘greenhouse effect.’ It can alter Earth’s weather patterns and it also tends to have a negative effect on human health.”

Persons with breathing problems, such as those who suffer from asthma, emphysema or other lung ailments, can be at risk, he notes.

Zhang says the team used new methods of measuring nanoparticles and formed new models to determine their impact on atmospheric conditions.

“These changes on our weather systems appear to be the most dramatic consequences of these nanoparticles,” he adds. “Once these form, they can change cloud formations, which in turn can affect weather all over the world, so this can become a global problem to deal with. We’re trying to get a better understanding of these particles work and grow. “They can form near areas that have petrochemical plants, such as Houston, which also has high amounts of aerosols from traffic emissions and other numerous factories. But we’re still trying to learn how they form and interact with the atmosphere.”

Many types of trees and plants also contribute to the formation of nanoparticles, which are natural processes, Zhang says, and certain forms of organic materials can also speed up the development of the particles. But all of these ultimately affect the atmosphere, and very often, cloud formation, where the aerosols scatter light and radiation back into space and provide the “seeds” of cloud droplets and development.

“These nanoparticles are very small – about one million times smaller than a typical raindrop,” Zhang says. “But what they do can have a huge effect on our weather.”

Source: [[Texas A&M News & Information Services » Blog Archive » Atmospheric Nanoparticles Impact Health, Weather Prof Says|http://tamunews.tamu.edu/2010/02/28/atmospheric-nanoparticles-impact-health-weather-prof-says/]]. This work is detailed in the paper ''[[Atmospheric nanoparticles formed from heterogeneous reactions of organics|http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/v3/n4/full/ngeo778.html]]'' by Lin Wang, Alexei F. Khalizov, Jun Zheng, Wen Xu, Yan Ma, Vinita Lal & Renyi Zhang.

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[<img[In an atom pinhole camera, atoms pass through pinholes in a mask and generate a scaled-down nanostructure of the mask’s pattern onto a substrate. (Credit: sci publication)|http://www.en.nanonewsnet.ru/sites/en.nanonewsnet.ru/files/users/u1331/PinholeCameraNanolythography1_060209.jpg]] Scientists from the [[Institute of Spectroscopy|http://www.isan.troitsk.ru/]], Russian Academy of Sciences have developed a method of nanofabrication using an atom pinhole camera. For the first time, the researchers, along with coauthors from the [[Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology|http://phystech.edu/]], have experimentally demonstrated ''how to use the camera obscura to manufacture an array of identical atomic nanostructures of controlled shapes and sizes''. The technique could produce individual nanostructures down to 30 nm, a size reduction of 10,000 times compared with the original object.

As the scientists explain, the atom pinhole camera they designed is based on the idea of an optical [[pinhole camera|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinhole_camera]], which is often used in optics when creation of a focusing lens is difficult. Instead of light traveling through a lens, light travels through a pinhole on a mask, and creates an inverted image on a substrate on the other side. Optical pinhole cameras can produce high-quality images with high resolution that depends on the diameter of the pinhole.

In an atom pinhole camera, atoms act like photons in an optical pinhole camera, and so the main principles are the same in both versions. In their experimental setup, the scientists used ion beam milling to poke a pinhole in a mask. After the atoms passed through the pinhole, they created an atomic nanostructure on a silicon substrate. As the atom pinhole camera provides a way to replicate micro-sized objects as nano-sized ones, the camera is an example of <html><b><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/1451541/Feynman-1983" title="Infinitesimal Machines by Richard Feynman. 1983">Feynman’s scalable manufacturing system</a></b></html>

The scientists also created another mask with a large array of pinholes. In this “atom multiple pinhole camera,” each pinhole could generate its own image, which does not intersect with neighboring images. As the scientists noted, a camera with up to 10 million pinholes could open up opportunities for simultaneous generation of large numbers of identical (or diverse) nanostructures.

Using an atom pinhole camera to fabricate nanostructures offers several advantages compared to other nanofabrication techniques, which include optical photolithography (in which a photosensitive material is molded by light), nanolithography (in which focused particle beams mold objects), and atom optics methods that use lenses, which are limited by diffraction.

The atom pinhole camera is a novel type of lens-less atom optics technique, which uses diffraction to its advantage. While it might seem that resolution in atom pinhole camera would be limited to the diameter of the pinhole, the researchers show in an upcoming study that the image spot diameter can be three times smaller than the pinhole diameter, which is due to diffraction effects.

The new method can be used with a variety of materials for nanostructures (e.g. atoms, molecules, and clusters) and a variety of substrates, which could make it useful for diverse applications such as electronics and biological uses. The scientists predict that the method could have applications in metamaterials, plasmonics, spintronics, MEMS/NEMS, and more.

Source: From [[Atom pinhole camera for nanolithography from the Institute of Spectroscopy, Russian Academy of Sciences|http://www.en.nanonewsnet.ru/news/2009/atom-pinhole-camera-nanolithography-institute-spectroscopy-russian-academy-sciences]]. Nano News Net, nanotechnology news from Russia. Submitted by birger. This work is detailed in the paper [[Nanolithography based on an atom pinhole camera|http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/20/23/235301]] by P.N. Melentiev, A.V. Aablotskiy, [[D.A. Lapshin|http://www.isan.troitsk.ru/dls/lapshin/homepage_start.htm]], E.P. Sheshin, A.S. Baturin, and [[V.I. Balykin|http://www.isan.troitsk.ru/dls/balykin.htm]]

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A chronicle of the first effort to move individual atoms. [[Positioning single atoms with a scanning tunnelling microscope|http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v344/n6266/abs/344524a0.html]] by D. M. Eigler & E. K. Schweizer (Nature, April 5, 1990)

"In 1989, three years after joining IBM’s Almaden Research Center, [[Don Eigler|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Eigler]] and colleague Erhard Schweitzer demonstrated the ability to position individual atoms with atomic precision using a low-temperature [[Scanning Tunneling Microscope|http://www.almaden.ibm.com/vis/stm/gallery.html]]".<html><object width="620" height="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/57QQqbziiFs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/57QQqbziiFs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="620" height="500"></embed></object></html>
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{{twocolumns{
University of Queensland scientists have earned their place alongside artists in a new exhibition that promotes sustainability through creative practice.

An animation and images created by [[Dr David Poger and Professor Alan Mark|http://www.bio-diverse-cityproject.com/participants.php]] from the School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences are featured in the [[Bio-diverse-city exhibition|http://www.bio-diverse-cityproject.com/]].

The animation shows how phospholipid molecules, the main component of cell membranes, will spontaneously self-assemble to form a well-ordered functional membrane from a random mixture in water.

The water molecules are depicted in blue, the lipid "tails" are drawn as grey sticks while the yellow and green balls represent the "head group" of the lipid molecules. The animation is the result of computer simulations that are being used by Professor Mark and his laboratory to understand how cells operate at an atomic level.

''"Molecular self-assembly is one of the most fundamental properties of life,"'' [[Professor Mark|http://www.uq.edu.au/uqresearchers/researcher/marka.html]] said.

"Understanding this process is not only a major scientific challenge but is also central to unravelling the origins of conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and the rational design of nano-materials modelled on biological systems.

"The great thing about the exhibition is that it can help convey the sense of amazement you get when studying life in atomic detail."

''The Bio-diverse-city project aims to explore new concepts around building social and environmental resilience through diversity.''

The work of [[Dr Poger|http://compbio.chemistry.uq.edu.au/~david/]] and Professor Mark was selected for the exhibition not only because it is striking but also because it represents one of the most fundamental processes involved in building and sustaining life.

The Bio-diverse-city exhibition forms part of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council's Treeline Project – a series of environmentally focused art events being staged between January and July 2010. Source: [[Atomic art promotes sustainability|http://www.uq.edu.au/news/?article=21310]]

Bio-diverse-city: the Treeline Project 2010: One of Australia's most innovative art exhibition concepts is entering its second phase. In tune with the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity, the Bio-diverse-city project explores new concepts around building social and environmental <html><a href="http://www.resalliance.org/576.php" title="Ecosystem resilience is the capacity of an ecosystem to tolerate disturbance without collapsing into a qualitatively different state that is controlled by a different set of processes. A resilient ecosystem can withstand shocks and rebuild itself when necessary">resilience</a></html> through diversity by putting visual artists, scientists, architects, urban planners and social scientists together in the 'white cube', setting up unique visual dialogues about the emerging future. 

Why 'Bio-diverse-city' ? This is a way of forcing the two ideas together - the idea of the 'city' and the idea of 'biodiversity'.  There is an obvious play around the word 'biodiversity' of course. Beyond that, hyphenating the components of the title implies a deconstruction into individual parts that nevertheless still belong to the whole. Thus 'bio' might suggest the natural world, or 'organic' rather than 'mechanical', while  'diverse' suggests a spread of characteristics and increased complexity. The city is the preferred ecological niche now for Homo sapiens and inevitably will be where much of the focus is directed for planning human futures in the face of great environmental change. Fusing the ideas of biodiversity and the city reflects <html><a href="http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/TransitionNetwork" title="Transition Network's role is to inspire, encourage, connect, support and train communities as they self-organise around the transition model, creating initiatives that rebuild resilience and reduce CO2 emissions.">a growing world view</a></html> of the importance of containing one within the other in planning. From [[Bio-diverse-city site project|http://www.bio-diverse-cityproject.com/]]

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The Royal Society, the UK’s independent academy for science, has announced the recipients of its  2010 Awards, Medals, Royal Medals and Lectures. The scientists receive the awards in recognition of their achievements in a wide variety of fields of research - the uniting factor is the excellence of their work and the profound implications their findings have had for others working in their relevant fields and wider society. From [[Royal Society recognises excellence in science|http://royalsociety.org/Royal-Society-recognises-excellence-in-science/]]

The Royal Society awarded Professor Andre Geim the Hughes Medal for his revolutionary discovery of graphene, and explanation of its remarkable properties.

The director of the [[Manchester Centre for Mesoscience and Nanotechnology|http://intranet.cs.man.ac.uk/nanotechnology/]] adds the medal to his long list of awards [1] which reflect his stature in the world of scientific research after ''the discovery of graphene – the world’s thinnest material – in 2004''.

For his award, Professor Geim paid tribute to his colleagues, saying: "I am honoured to receive this award that recognises original discoveries in the physical sciences.

“''Graphene is a supreme representative of a new class of materials that are one-atom-thick and until recently remained missing from our perception of the universe''. During the last five years, graphene has become one of the hottest research topics, and the interest shows no sign of receding.

“The area continues deliver a new exciting science, and the applications are no longer wishful thinking. Our work previously attracted a number of awards, and the recognition by the Royal Society is of course a great source of personal pride.

“Also, it is testament to the hard work and dedication taking place here at the University of Manchester, with my many colleagues contributing to this achievement." Source: [[Professors honoured by Royal Society for excellence in science|http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/?id=5818]]

The original paper with the discovery: ''[[Electric Field Effect in Atomically Thin Carbon Films|http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/306/5696/666]]'' by K. S. Novoselov, A. K. Geim, S. V. Morozov, D. Jiang, Y. Zhang, S. V. Dubonos, I. V. Grigorieva, A. A. Firsov. "We describe monocrystalline graphitic films, which are a few atoms thick but are nonetheless stable under ambient conditions, metallic, and of remarkably high quality. The films are found to be a two-dimensional semimetal with a tiny overlap between valence and conductance bands, and they exhibit a strong ambipolar electric field effect such that electrons and holes in concentrations up to 10^^13^^ per square centimeter and with room-temperature mobilities of 10,000 square centimeters per volt-second can be induced by applying gate voltage."

<html><img src="http://onnes.ph.man.ac.uk/~geim/index_files/slide0614_image001.jpg"  alt="Professor Andre Geim" title="Professor Andre Geim, awarded for the discovery of graphene" align="middle" width="75%"/></html>

''References:''
^^<html><h2><a name="awards">[1] Awards:</a></h2></html>
[[2010 NAS John J Carty Award|http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=01202010b]] for “realization and investigation of graphene, the two-dimensional form of carbon”
[[2009 Körber Science Prize|http://www.koerber-stiftung.de/en/science/koerber-prize/presse/pressemeldungen/presse-details-koerber-preis/artikel/the-2009-koerber-european-science-award-goes-to-andre-geim.html]] for “developing the first two-dimensional crystals made of carbon atoms”
[[2008 Europhysics Prize|http://www.eps.org/news/news-files/Awards%20from%202008%20on%20-%20EPSeurophys.%20Prize.pdf/view]] “for discovering and isolating a single free-standing atomic layer of carbon (graphene) and elucidating its remarkable electronic properties“ (shared with [[Kostya Novoselov|http://www.condmat.physics.manchester.ac.uk/people/academic/novoselov/]])
[[2007 Mott Prize|http://www.iop.org/News/Community_News_Archive/2006/news_8650.html]] “for the discovery of a new class of materials – 2D atomic crystals – particularly graphene^^

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<br>Alexie M. Kolpak and Jeffrey C. Grossman. 2011. ''ACS Nano Letters. doi:10.1021/nl201357n''

//Solar thermal fuels, which reversibly store solar energy in molecular bonds, are a tantalizing prospect for clean, renewable, and transportable energy conversion/storage. However, large-scale adoption requires enhanced energy storage capacity and thermal stability. Here we present a novel solar thermal fuel, composed of azobenzene-functionalized carbon nanotubes, with the volumetric energy density of Li-ion batteries. Our work also demonstrates that the inclusion of nanoscale templates is an effective strategy for design of highly cyclable, thermally stable, and energy-dense solar thermal fuels.//

The selection of these images question and move us to a playground where it is possible to disclose what apparently seems to be hidden and where we can experience the convergence of art and science. Knowledge, reflection, aesthetic enjoyment, and beauty find here their own place.

The playground opened in front of us is not predefined, neither for the scientist nor for the receiver, if any of these figures could ever be independent one from the other. In fact it is a space where incontigency, what is for itself, it appears in front of us contingently like an //objet trouvé//. 

It is absolutely possible to establish a link between the representation of certain nanotechnological images and their perception by the spectator in a way that can evoke an aesthetic experience leading to sensory-cognitive connections.

I am going to mention two quotes from the article "Balancing the promises" very appropriate for this introduction to the aesthetics of the nanotechnology images: "nanoparticles conjugate composed by an inorganic core coated by a thin layer of organic matter" and "How do we go from chemistry to biology? Nanotechnology". In this way is configured a double corollary, the one of 'covering-uncovering' and the one of 'bridge-path'.

The interpretation and the playground will be opened if we are able to accept the invitation to unwrap and cross //objet trouvé//,that means, these
images from the nanometric world, with their own potentialities, as if we were contemplating a simple Haiku from Matsuo Basho or a caligram from Apollinaire. 

Is not by chance that as first plate it appears a sample of human in an alert position, walking stealthily on tiptoe across 'Nanoland' balancing the promises. The character (main figure) I guess is there, in order to be our guide through this territory full of winding curves, intricate paths, complex nets, floral landscape and bright stars escaped from the Van Gogh picture 'Starry night' It is useless to expect that maps could help us in this trip because maps themselves are part of that magnificent territory. At the end of this enriching walk our tiny guide points us cubic shapes that remind us dice, an then comes to our mind the Mallarme's poem 'A throw of the dice will never abolish chance' concluding that any interpretation along this trek could only be, even tough we have a guide, a matter of chance. Source: ''Balancing the promises plates by Anna Rierola, [[Transcultural|http://www.transcultural.es/]]''

''Context:'' The book [[Nanotechnology: balancing the promises]] includes 42 original plates of nanoparticles

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{{twocolumns{
Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab’s Molecular Foundry) have discovered a universal technique for stripping nanocrystals of tether-like molecules that until now have posed as obstacles for their integration into devices. These findings could provide scientists with a clean slate for developing new nanocrystal-based technologies for energy storage, photovoltaics, smart windows, solar fuels and light-emitting diodes.

Nanocrystals are typically prepared in a chemical solution using stringy molecules called ligands chemically tethered to their surface. These hydrocarbon-based or organometallic molecules help stabilize the nanocrystal, but also form an undesirable insulating shell around the structure. Efficient and clean removal of these surface ligands is challenging and has eluded researchers for decades.

<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px" src="img/bare_nanocrystals_vials.jpg" title="Vials of ligand-free nanocrystals dispersed in solution for various applications, including energy storage, smart windows and LEDs." class="photo"  width="100%"/></html> [[The Molecular Foundry|http://foundry.lbl.gov/]] is one of five DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers (NSRCs), national user facilities for interdisciplinary research at the nanoscale, supported by the DOE Office of Science.  Together the NSRCs comprise a suite of complementary facilities that provide researchers with state-of-the-art capabilities to fabricate, process, characterize and model nanoscale materials, and constitute the largest infrastructure investment of the National Nanotechnology Initiative. Source: From [[Nanocrystals Go Bare:|http://newscenter.lbl.gov/feature-stories/2011/12/08/nanocrystals-go-bare/]]Berkeley Lab Researchers Strip Material’s Tiny Tethers by Aditi Risbud. This work was detailed in the paper [[“Exceptionally mild reactive stripping of native ligands from nanocrystal surfaces using Meerwein’s salt”|http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.201105996/abstract]].

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{{twocolumns{
One Chicago skyline is dazzling enough. Now imagine 15,000 of them. A Northwestern University research team has done just that -- drawing 15,000 identical skylines with tiny beams of light using an innovative nanofabrication technology called beam-pen lithography (BPL). ''The new method could do for nanofabrication what the desktop printer has done for printing and information transfer.'' The Northwestern technology offers a means to rapidly and inexpensively make and prototype circuits, optoelectronics and medical diagnostics and promises many other applications in the electronics, photonics and life sciences industries.

"It's all about miniaturization," said ''[[Chad A. Mirkin|http://mccormick.northwestern.edu/news/archives/691]]'', George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and director of Northwestern's [[International Institute for Nanotechnology|http://www.iinano.org/]]. "Rapid and large-scale transfer of information drives the world. But conventional micro- and nanofabrication tools for making structures are very expensive. We are trying to change that with this new approach to photolithography and nanopatterning."

''Beam-pen lithography is the third type of "pen" in Mirkin's nanofabrication arsenal. He developed [[polymer-pen lithography (PPL)|http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/321/5896/1658]] in 2008 and [[Dip-Pen Nanolithography (DPN)|http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/283/5402/661]] in 1999'', both of which deliver chemical materials to a surface and have since been commercialized into research-grade nanofabrication tools that are now used in 23 countries around the world. Like PPL, beam-pen lithography uses an array of tiny pens made of a polymer to print patterns over large areas with nanoscopic through macroscopic resolution. But instead of using an "ink" of molecules, BPL draws patterns using light on a light-sensitive material.

Beam-pen lithography could lead to the development of a desktop printer of sorts for nanofabrication, giving individual researchers a great deal of control of their work. "Such an instrument would allow researchers at universities and in the electronics industry around the world to rapidly prototype -- and possibly produce -- high-resolution electronic devices and systems right in the lab," Mirkin said. "They want to test their patterns immediately, not have to wait for a third-party to produce prototypes, which is what happens now." Source: From [[15,000 beams of light|http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/nu-1bo073010.php]]. This work is detailed in the paper [[Beam-pen Nanolithography|http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nnano.2010.161.html]] by  Fengwei Huo, Gengfeng Zheng, Xing Liao, Louise R. Giam, Jinan Chai, Xiaodong Chen and Wooyoung Shim &  Chad A. Mirkin

''Related news'' list by date, most recent first: <<matchTags popup sort:-created nanomachinery>><<matchTags popup sort:-created nanomanufacturing>><<matchTags popup sort:-created nanoelectronics>><<matchTags popup sort:-created video>>

<html><iframe class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="95%" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZZB6xJz4c3E" frameborder="0"></iframe></html>
}}}

Gold is for ever… is inert and not biodegradable, the most noble of the noble metals. That is why it is used in medicine (stents) or dental restoration. However, if you look very close, with your nanoglasses, ''gold'' dissolves in biological environments. This metabolization of inorganic “non-biodegradable” matter is slow and it has been usually neglected. However, nanoparticles are also small and the dissolution rates become significant when your entity has few thousand of atoms. Mainly if the immune system is involved. See [[Gold ions bio-released from metallic gold particles reduce inflammation and apoptosis and increase the regenerative responses in focal brain injury|http://www.springerlink.com/content/a127670376840111/]]. 

Metabolization of magnetite/maghemite ''iron oxide'' ~NPs has also been described recently. See [[Bioinorganic transformations of liver iron deposits observed by tissue magnetic characterisation in a rat model|http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TGG-4KB6YV2-6&_user=1517286&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000053449&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1517286&md5=b224b4272d490a17a278f6c74483b03f]]

''~CdSe nanoparticles'' have also been reported to corrode and dissolve in biological environments in a matter of 24-48 hours. See [[Cytotoxicity of Colloidal CdSe and CdSe/ZnS Nanoparticles|http://www.nanion.de/pdf/NanoLetters_Cytotoxicity.pdf]]

Thus, if ~CdSe, iron oxide, Au dissolve in biological environments, one may expect that many other materials will do so (may be not carbon nanostructures, as carbon nanotubes or fullerenes, will be diamonds for ever even in the nanometer? Or very stable oxides as ~SiO2, will it dissolve?) ''and this will have an enormous impact on the risk evaluation of nanoparticles'' since it will determine their accumulation potential and therefore the doses, regulations, toxicities… 

''Related news'' list by date, most recent first: <<matchTags popup sort:-created nanoparticles>><<matchTags popup sort:-created nanotoxicology>><<matchTags popup sort:-created nanobiotechnology>><<matchTags popup sort:-created [[Victor Puntes]]>>

University of Pittsburgh researchers have developed ''the first natural, nontoxic method for biodegrading carbon nanotubes'', a finding that could help diminish the environmental and health concerns that mar the otherwise bright prospects of the super-strong materials commonly used in products, from electronics to plastics.

A Pitt research team has found that carbon nanotubes deteriorate when exposed to the natural enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP). These results open the door to further development of safe and natural methods-with HRP or other enzymes-of cleaning up carbon nanotube spills in the environment and the industrial or laboratory setting.

Carbon nanotubes are one-atom thick rolls of graphite 100,000 times smaller than a human hair yet stronger than steel and excellent conductors of electricity and heat. They reinforce plastics, ceramics, or concrete; conduct electricity in electronics or energy-conversion devices; and are sensitive chemical sensors, Alexander Star said. (Star created an [[early-detection device for asthma attacks|http://mac10.umc.pitt.edu/m/FMPro?-db=ma.fp5&-format=d.html&-lay=a&-sortfield=date&-sortorder=descend&keywords=asthma&-max=50&-recid=37156&-find=]] wherein carbon nanotubes detect minute amounts of nitric oxide preceding an attack)

"The many applications of nanotubes have resulted in greater production of them, but their toxicity remains controversial," Star said. "Accidental spills of nanotubes are inevitable during their production, and the massive use of nanotube-based materials could lead to increased environmental pollution. We have demonstrated a nontoxic approach to successfully degrade carbon nanotubes in environmentally relevant conditions."

The team's work focused on nanotubes in their raw form as a fine, graphite-like powder, Valerian Kagan explained. In this form, nanotubes have caused severe lung inflammation in lab tests. Although small, nanotubes contain thousands of atoms on their surface that could react with the human body in unknown ways, Kagan said. Both he and Star are associated with a three-year-old Pitt initiative to investigate nanotoxicology.

"Nanomaterials aren't completely understood. Industries use nanotubes because they're unique-they are strong, they can be used as semiconductors. But do these features present unknown health risks? The field of nanotoxicology is developing to find out," Kagan said. "Studies have shown that they can be dangerous. We wanted to develop a method for safely neutralizing these very small materials should they contaminate the natural or working environment."

To break down the nanotubes, the team exposed them to a solution of HRP and a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide at 4 degrees Celcius (39 degrees Fahrenheit) for 12 weeks. Once fully developed, this method could be administered as easily as chemical clean-ups in today's labs, Kagan and Star said.

Source: [[Pitt Researchers Create Nontoxic Clean-up Method for Common, Potentially Toxic Nano Materials|http://www.news.pitt.edu/m/FMPro?-db=ma&-lay=a&-format=d.html&id=3552&-Find]]. This work is detailed in the paper [[Biodegradation of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes through Enzymatic Catalysis|http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/nl802315h?prevSearch=Alexander+Star&searchHistoryKey=]] by Brett L. Allen, Padmakar D. Kichambare, Pingping Gou, Irina I. Vlasova, Alexander A. Kapralov, Nagarjun Konduru, Valerian E. Kagan and Alexander Star

<<matchTags popup sort:-created  [[green chemistry]]>><<matchTags popup sort:-created  nanotoxicology>><<matchTags popup sort:-created  [[carbon nanotubes]]>>

{{twocolumns{
<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px" src="img/quantumdot_in_bacteria.jpeg" title="The quantum dot-tainted bacteria stop digestion in the protozoan, and food vacuoles with undigested material accumulate, seen in the right image. This is in contrast to the normal condition of protozoa eating untreated bacteria, seen in the left image" class="photo"  width="50%"/></html> An interdisciplinary team of researchers at UC Santa Barbara has produced ''a groundbreaking study of how nanoparticles are able to biomagnify in a simple microbial food chain''.

"This was a simple scientific curiosity," said [[Patricia Holden|http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/people/Faculty/patricia_holden.htm]], professor in UCSB's Bren School of Environmental Science & Management and the corresponding author of the study. "But it is also ''of great importance to this new field of looking at the interface of nanotechnology and the environment''."

The research was partially funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) STAR Program, and by the UC Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology ([[UC CEIN|http://www.cein.ucsb.edu/]]), based at UCLA, with researchers from UCSB, UC Davis, UC Riverside, Columbia University, and other national and international partners. UC CEIN is funded by the National Science Foundation and the EPA.

The fact that the ratio of cadmium and selenide was preserved throughout the course of the study indicates that the nanoparticles were themselves biomagnified. "Biomagnification –– the increase in concentration of cadmium as the tracer for nanoparticles from prey into predator –– this is the first time this has been reported for nanomaterials in an aquatic environment, and furthermore involving microscopic life forms, which comprise the base of all food webs," Holden said.

An implication is that nanoparticles inside the protozoa could then be available to the next level of predators in the food chain, which could lead to broader ecological effects. "These protozoa are greatly enriched in nanoparticles because of feeding on quantum dot-laced bacteria," Hold said. "Because there were toxic effects on the protozoa in this study, there is a concern that there could also be toxic effects higher in the food chain, especially in aquatic environments."

One of the missions of UC CEIN is to try to understand the effects of nanomaterials in the environment, and how scientists can prevent any possible negative effects that might pose a threat to any form of life. "In this context, one might argue that if you could ‘design out' whatever property of the quantum dots causes them to enter bacteria, then we could avoid this potential consequence," Holden said. "That would be a positive way of viewing a study like this. ''Now scientists can look back and say, ‘How do we prevent this from happening?' "'' Source: [[UCSB Scientists Demonstrate Biomagnification of Nanomaterials in Simple Food Chain|http://www.ia.ucsb.edu/pa/display.aspx?pkey=2391]]. This work was detailed in the paper [[“Biomagnification of cadmium selenide quantum dots in a simple experimental microbial food chain”|http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2010.251]] by R. Werlin, J. H. Priester, R. E. Mielke, S. Krämer, S. Jackson, P. K. Stoimenov, G. D. Stucky, G. N. Cherr, [[E. Orias|http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/mcdb/emeriti/orias/index.html]] & P. A. Holden <<slider chkSldr [[Biomagnification of cadmium selenide quantum dots in a simple experimental microbial food chain]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>

''Related news'' list by date, most recent first: <<matchTags popup sort:-created nanoparticles>><<matchTags popup sort:-created nanotoxicology>><<matchTags popup sort:-created [[quantum dots]]>>
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}}}

<br>//Previous studies have shown that engineered nanomaterials can be transferred from prey to predator, but the ecological impacts of this are mostly unknown. In particular, it is not known if these materials can be biomagnified—a process in which higher concentrations of materials accumulate in organisms higher up in the food chain. Here, we show that bare CdSe quantum dots that have accumulated in Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria can be transferred to and biomagnified in the Tetrahymena thermophila protozoa that prey on the bacteria. Cadmium concentrations in the protozoa predator were approximately five times higher than their bacterial prey. Quantum-dot-treated bacteria were differentially toxic to the protozoa, in that they inhibited their own digestion in the protozoan food vacuoles. Because the protozoa did not lyse, largely intact quantum dots remain available to higher trophic levels. The observed biomagnification from bacterial prey is significant because bacteria are at the base of environmental food webs. Our findings illustrate the potential for biomagnification as an ecological impact of nanomaterials.//

Berkeley Lab scientists have developed a nano-sized synthetic polymer bundle that can fold in half and trap a zinc molecule between its jaws, ''a first-of-its-kind feat that mimics how proteins conduct life’s vital functions''.

//“Our goal is to take proteins’ catalysis and molecular-recognition capabilities, and add them to a material that is more rugged and less prone to degradation,”// said Ron Zuckermann, who is the Facility Director of the Biological Nanostructures Facility in Berkeley Lab’s Molecular Foundry.  “Proteins are precisely folded linear polymer chains of amino acids. So we thought, why not make a similar polymer chain by linking together non-natural amino acids?”

The scientists’ research is detailed in a study entitled [[“Biomimetic Nanostructures: Creating a High-Affinity Zinc-Binding Site in a Folded Nonbiological Polymer”|http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/jacsat/2008/130/i27/abs/ja802125x.html]].

Source: [[Nanosized Jaws Perform Like Proteins|http://www.lbl.gov/publicinfo/newscenter/features/2008/MSD-nano-jaws.html]]
^^Via [[Joan Esteve|http://www.ub.edu/gcfes/index_es.htm]]^^

Testing for diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis could soon be as simple as using a pregnancy testing kit. A team led by scientists at the University of Leeds has developed ''a biosensor technology that uses antibodies to detect biomarkers'' - molecules in the human body which are often a marker for disease – much faster than current testing methods (provides results in 15 minutes or less).

The technology could be used in doctors’ surgeries for more accurate referral to consultants, and in hospitals for rapid diagnosis. Tests have shown that the biosensors can detect a wide range of analytes (substances being measured), including biomarkers present in prostate and ovarian cancer, stroke, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and fungal infections. The team also believes that the biosensors are versatile enough to test for diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV.

The technology was developed through a European collaboration of researchers and commercial partners in a 2.7 million Euro project called [[ELISHA|http://www.immunosensors.com]] (~Electro-Immunointerfaces and Surface Nanobiotechnology: A Heterodoxical Approach).

ELISHA was co-ordinated by Dr Paul Millner from the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the [[University of Leeds|http://www.fbs.leeds.ac.uk]], and managed by colleague Dr Tim Gibson. Says Dr Millner: “''We believe this to be the next generation diagnostic testing''. We can now detect almost any analyte faster, cheaper and more easily than the current accepted testing methodology.“

Currently blood and urine are tested for disease markers using a method called ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay). Developed in the 1970s, the process takes an average of two hours to complete, is costly and can only be performed by highly trained staff.

The Leeds team are confident their new technology could be developed into a small device the size of a mobile phone into which different sensor chips could be inserted, depending on the disease being tested for. “We’ve designed simple instrumentation to make the biosensors easy to use and understand,” says Dr Millner. “They’ll work in a format similar to the glucose biosensor testing kits that diabetics currently use.”

Says Dr Gibson: “''The analytes used in our research only scratch the surface of the potential applications. We’ve also shown that it can be used in environmental applications'', for example to test for herbicides or pesticides in water and antibiotics in milk.”

Source: [[Disease diagnosis in just 15 minutes|http://www.leeds.ac.uk/media/press_releases/current/15minutes.htm]]

<<matchTags popup sort:-created  nanomedicine>><<matchTags popup sort:-created  nano-oncology>><<matchTags popup sort:-created  detection>>

[<img[The nanostructures that produce some birds’ brightly colored plumage, such as the blue feathers of the male Eastern Bluebird, have a sponge-like structure (Photo: Ken Thomas)|http://opa.yale.edu/images/articles/6559-58758972.jpg]] Some of the brightest colors in nature are created by tiny nanostructures with a structure similar to beer foam or a sponge, according to Yale University researchers.

Most colors in nature—from the color of our skin to the green of trees—are produced by pigments. But the bright blue feathers found in many birds, such as Bluebirds and Blue Jays, are instead produced by nanostructures. Under an electron microscope, these structures look like sponges with air bubbles.

Now an interdisciplinary team of Yale engineers, physicists and evolutionary biologists has taken a step toward uncovering how these structures form. They compared the nanostructures to examples of materials undergoing phase separation, in which mixtures of different substances become unstable and separate from one another, such as the carbon-dioxide bubbles that form when the top is popped off a bubbly drink. They found that the color-producing structures in feathers appear to self-assemble in much the same manner. Bubbles of water form in a protein-rich soup inside the living cell and are replaced with air as the feather grows.

The research, which appears online in the journal Soft Matter, provides new insight into how organisms use self-assembly to produce color, and has important implications for the role color plays in birds’ plumage, as the color produced depends entirely on the precise size and shape of these nanostructures.

“Many biologists think that plumage color can encode information about quality – basically, that a bluer male is a better mate,” said [[Richard Prum|http://www.yale.edu/eeb/prum]], chair of the [[Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology|http://www.yale.edu/eeb]] and one of the paper’s authors. “Such information would have to be encoded in the feather as the bubbles grow. I think our hypothesis that phase separation is involved provides less opportunity for encoding information about quality than most biologists thought. At the same time, it’s exciting to think about other ways birds might be using phase separation.”

[[Eric Dufresne|http://www.seas.yale.edu/faculty-detail.php?id=31]], lead author of the paper, is also interested in the potential technological applications of the finding. “We have found that nature elegantly self assembles intricate optical structures in bird feathers. We are now mimicking this approach to make a new generation of optical materials in the lab,” said Dufresne, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and physics.

Prum believes it was the interdisciplinary approach the team took that led to their success – a result he plans on celebrating “with another practical application of phase separation: champagne!”

Other authors of the paper include Heeso Noh, Vinodkumar Saranathan, Simon Mochrie Hui Cao (all of Yale University).

Source: [[Bird Feathers Produce Color Through Structure Similar to Beer Foam|http://opa.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=6559&s=t]].

Related news list by date, most recent first: <<matchTags popup sort:-created [[nano before nanotech]]>><<matchTags popup sort:-created self-assembly>>

{{twocolumns{
<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px" src="https://www.ameslab.gov/files/imagepicker/k/kgibson/Citrate.jpg" title="This diagram shows the effect of citrate concentration on the size of hydroxyapatite crystals fabricated with self-assembling block copolymer templates. Just as it does with actual bone structure, as the concentration of citrate increases, the thickness of the nanocrystals decreases and the thinner nanocrystals appear to make the bone more resistant to stress cracking. Credit: U.S. Dept. of Energy's Ames Laboratory" class="photo"  width="50%"/></html>Bone is one of nature’s surprising “building materials.” Pound-for-pound it’s stronger than steel, tough yet resilient.  Scientists ''have identified the composition that gives bone its outstanding properties'' and the important role citrate plays, work that may help science better understand and treat or prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory scientist and Iowa State University chemistry professor [[Klaus Schmidt-Rohr|http://www.ameslab.gov/dmse/srohr]] and his colleagues studied ''bone, an organic-inorganic nanocomposite whose stiffness is provided by thin nanocrystals of carbonated apatite, a calcium phosphate, imbedded in an organic matrix of mostly collagen, a fibrous protein''.

By understanding the nanostructure of naturally occurring materials, researchers may be able to develop new light-weight, high-strength materials that will require less energy to manufacture and that could make the products in which they are used more energy efficient.

“The organic, collagen matrix is what makes bones tough,” Schmidt-Rohr said, “while the inorganic apatite nanocrystals provide the stiffness. And the small thickness – about 3 nanometers – of these nanocrystals appears to provide favorable mechanical properties, primarily in prevention of crack propagation.” While bone structure has been studied extensively, ''how these apatite nanocrystals form and what prevents them from growing thicker was a mystery''. 

After studying bone structure over a five-year period, it was actually serendipitous that Schmidt-Rohr came across a signature that appeared to match what he was seeing. “We had gotten some crystalline collagen samples to study,” he said, “and it turned out that the supplier had used citrate to dissolve the collagen. And the citrate signature in the collagen samples matched the signature we were seeing in bone.”

According to Schmidt-Rohr, the role of citrate in bone had been studied up until about 1975, but since that time, no mention was made in any of the newer literature on bone.  So in essence, his research team had to rediscover it.

“We feel that citrate probably also has a role in the biomineralization of the apatite,”  Schmidt-Rohr said. “It’s also been noted in the literature that as an organism ages, the nanocrystal thickness increases and the citrate concentration goes down,” Schmidt-Rohr said, “and there’s also support from clinical studies that citrate is good for bones,” adding that one of the leading supplements for bone strength contains calcium citrate. “While calcium loss is a major symptom in osteoporosis, the decline of citrate concentration may also contribute to bone brittleness,” he said. Source: From ''[[Citrate Key in Bone's Nanostructure|http://www.ameslab.gov/news/news-releases/citrate-key-bones-nanostructure]]''.

See also [[The calcification at a nanometer scale|Early atherosclerosis imaged: the calcification at a nanometer scale]]. "Unravelling the processes of calcium phosphate formation is important in our understanding of both bone and tooth formation, and also of pathological mineralization, for example in cardiovascular disease."
<br>''Related news'' list by date, most recent first: <<matchTags popup sort:-created nanomedicine >><<matchTags popup sort:-created nanomaterial >><<matchTags popup sort:-created nanominerals >><<matchTags popup sort:-created [[nano before nanotech]] >>
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}}}

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|Documentation|http://www.TiddlyTools.com/#BreadcrumbsPluginInfo|
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|License|http://www.TiddlyTools.com/#LegalStatements|
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!!!!!Documentation
<<<
see [[BreadcrumbsPluginInfo]]
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2009.10.19 [2.1.2] code reduction
| Please see [[BreadcrumbsPluginInfo]] for previous revision details |
2006.02.01 [1.0.0] initial release
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Scientists unveiled a method for the industrial-scale processing of pure carbon-nanotube fibers that could lead to revolutionary advances in materials science, power distribution and nanoelectronics. The result of a nine-year program, the method builds upon tried-and-true processes that chemical firms have used for decades to produce plastics.

"Plastics is a $300 billion U.S. industry because of the massive throughput that's possible with fluid processing," said Rice University's [[Matteo Pasquali|http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~che/people/faculty/pasquali/pasquali.html]], a paper co-author. "The reason grocery stores use plastic bags instead of paper and the reason polyester shirts are cheaper than cotton is that polymers can be melted or dissolved and processed as fluids by the train-car load. Processing nanotubes as fluids opens up all of the fluid-processing technology that has been developed for polymers."

The report was co-authored by an 18-member team of scientists from Rice's <html><a href="http://cnst.rice.edu/" title="first nanotechnology center in the world">Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology</a></html>, the University of Pennsylvania and the ~Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Co-authors include Smalley Institute namesake [[Rick Smalley, the late Nobel laureate chemist|http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1996/smalley-autobio.html]] who developed the first high-throughput method for producing high-quality carbon nanotubes.

The new process builds upon the 2003 Rice discovery of a way to dissolve large amounts of pure nanotubes in strong acidic solvents like sulfuric acid. The research team subsequently found that nanotubes in these solutions aligned themselves, like spaghetti in a package, to form liquid crystals that could be spun into monofilament fibers about the size of a human hair.

"That research established an industrially relevant process for nanotubes that was analogous to the methods used to create Kevlar from rodlike polymers, except for the acid not being a true solvent," said Wade Adams, director of the Smalley Institute and co-author of the new paper. "The current research shows that we have a true solvent for nanotubes -- chlorosulfonic acid -- which is what we set out to find when we started this project nine years ago."

Following the 2003 breakthrough with acid solvents, the team methodically studied how nanotubes behaved in different types and concentrations of acids. By comparing and contrasting the behavior of nanotubes in acids with the literature on polymers and rodlike colloids, the team developed both the theoretical and practical tools that chemical firms will need to process nanotubes in bulk.

"[[Ishi Talmon|http://www.technion.ac.il/~ceritit/Ishi.html]] and his colleagues at Technion did the critical work required to help get direct proof that [[nanotubes were dissolving spontaneously in chlorosulfonic acid|http://pard.technion.ac.il/archives/presseng/Html/PR_breakthrough_11_11.Html]]," Pasquali said. "To do this, they had to develop new experimental techniques for direct imaging of vitrified fast-frozen acid solutions." Talmon said, "This was a very difficult study. Matteo's team not only had to pioneer new experimental techniques to achieve this, they also had to make significant extensions to the classical theories that were used to describe solutions of rods. The Technion team had to develop a new methodology to enable us to produce high-resolution images of the nanotubes dispersed in chlorosulfonic acid, a very corrosive fluid, by state-of-the-art electron microscopy at cryogenic temperatures."

Few technological breakthroughs have been hyped as much as carbon nanotubes. Since their discovery in 1991, nanotubes have been touted as everything from a cure for cancer to a solution for the world's energy crisis. The hype is all the more remarkable given that nanotubes are notoriously difficult to work with and that chemists worldwide struggled for years even to make them. So why the hype? Put simply, carbon nanotubes are remarkable. While they are roughly the same size and shape as some rodlike polymer molecules, nanotubes can conduct electricity as well as copper, and they can be either metals or semiconductors. They can be tagged with antibodies to diagnose diseases or heated with radio waves to destroy cancer. They've been used to make transistors far smaller than those in today's finest microchips. Nanotubes also weigh about one-sixth as much as steel but can be up to 100 times stronger.

"Kevlar, the polymer fiber used in bulletproof vests, is about five to 10 times stronger than our strongest nanotube fibers today, but in principle we should be able to make our fibers about 100 times stronger," Pasquali said. "If we can realize even 20 percent of our potential, we will have a great material, perhaps the strongest ever known. "The electrical conductivity is already pretty good," he said. "It's about the same of the best-conducting carbon-carbon fibers, and that could be improved 200 times if better production methods for metallic nanotubes can be found."

The new research appears just as the Smalley Institute prepared for a 10th anniversary celebration Nov. 5 of the creation of [[Smalley's "HiPco" reactor|http://smalley.rice.edu/content.aspx?id=174]], the first system capable of producing high-quality nanotubes in bulk. ~HiPco, short for high-pressure carbon monoxide process, broke the logjam on nanotube production and cleared the way for more scientific study and for industry to begin using them in some materials. Industrial nanotube reactors today generate several tons of low-quality carbon nanotubes per year, and the worldwide market for nanotubes is expected to top $2 billion annually within the next decade.

But a final breakthrough remains before the true potential of high-quality carbon nanotubes can be realized. That's because ~HiPco and all other methods of making high-end, "single-walled" nanotubes generate a hodgepodge of nanotubes with different diameters, lengths and molecular structures. Scientists worldwide are scrambling to find a process that will generate just one kind of nanotube in bulk, like the best-conducting metallic varieties, for instance.

"One good thing about the process that we have right now is that if anybody could give us one gram of pure metallic nanotubes, we could give them one gram of fiber within a few days," Pasquali said. Source: From [[Breakthrough in industrial-scale nanotube processing. Rice pioneers method for processing carbon nanotubes in bulk fluids|http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=13294&SnID=80899504]] . This work is detailed in the paper [[True solutions of single-walled carbon nanotubes for assembly into macroscopic materials|http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nnano.2009.302.html]] by Virginia A. Davis, A. Nicholas G. ~Parra-Vasquez, Micah J. Green, Pradeep K. Rai, Natnael Behabtu, Valentin Prieto, Richard D. Booker, Judith Schmidt, Ellina Kesselman, Wei Zhou, Hua Fan, W. Wade Adams, Robert H. Hauge, John E. Fischer, Yachin Cohen, Yeshayahu Talmon, Richard E. Smalley & Matteo Pasquali

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This booklet provides ''an introduction to informal science education and to science museum practice for nano and materials science researchers''. It advises researchers on ways to collaborate with science museums to increase the impact of their education outreach activities, and includes a rich bibliography.

"This booklet invites scientists and engineers who work in nanoscale science and engineering to collaborate with museums to present nanoscience and technology to the general public. ''It is writen by a resarcher for others researchers, and it's designated as an introduction to what museums call the "informal science education" field'' (...) Museums and researchers need each other. Museums often find themselves shorthanded when it comes to content expertise, presenters who are practicing scientists or engineers, and connections to larger networks within the scientific community. At the same time, researchers benefit from partnering with museums for a host of reasons — from ready access to public audiences who want to learn more about science, to the organizational infrastructure needed to address outreach goals for a federal grant.

It is challenging to develop new ways of inspiring wonder, creating a spectacle and making science and engineering concepts memorable for a broad audience. Whether one-time opportunities or large, ongoing programs, partnerships between museums and researchers have the capacity to break new ground and invent creative new strategies for communicating complex ideas to the general public.

''Nanoscale science and technology are perfect topics for museum/researcher partnerships''. The applications of nanoscale science are likely to have significant economic, social, and political implications, making them an important piece of science for the public to understand and explore. Museums will need help presenting these breakthroughs to the public, and you, as a nanoscale scientist or engineer, can help.

The NISE Network and the Materials Research Society are partnering to help create connections among museums and researchers to bring nanoscale science and engineering to the public. We hope that this booklet has given you some ideas about how you could get involved, and provided the motivation that will actually move you to contact your local museum, [[NISE Net|http://www.nisenet.org/resource]], or [[MRS|http://www.mrs.org/nise_survey]]. We look forward to making the connections that will help you share your scientific expertise and your excitement about science with people in your community." Source: ''[[Bringing Nano to the Public: A Collaboration Opportunity for Researchers and Museums|http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/topics/bringing_nano_public]]'' by [[Dr. Wendy C. Cron|http://mandm.engr.wisc.edu/faculty_pages/crone/main.htm]], edited by Susan E. Koch. This guidebook was prepared with funding from the National Science Foundation.

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With the joint release of [[Principles for the Oversight of Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials|http://www.icta.org/doc/Principles%20for%20the%20Oversight%20of%20Nanotechnologies%20and%20Nanomaterials_final.pdf]], a broad international coalition of consumer, public health, environmental, labor, and civil society organizations spanning six continents called for strong, comprehensive oversight of the new technology and its products.

Source: [[International Center for Technology Assessment (CTA): BROAD INTERNATIONAL COALITION ISSUES URGENT CALL FOR STRONG OVERSIGHT OF NANOTECHNOLOGY|http://www.icta.org/press/release.cfm?news_id=26]]

{{twocolumns{
<html><img title="For the first time, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has detected little spheres of carbon, called buckyballs, in a galaxy beyond our Milky Way galaxy. The space balls were detected in a dying star, called a planetary nebula, within the nearby galaxy, the Small Magellanic Cloud. What's more, huge quantities were found -- the equivalent in mass to 15 of our moons. An infrared photo of the Small Magellanic Cloud taken by Spitzer is shown here in this artist's illustration, with two callouts. The middle callout shows a magnified view of an example of a planetary nebula, and the right callout shows an even further magnified depiction of buckyballs, which consist of 60 carbon atoms arranged like soccer balls. In July 2010, astronomers reported using Spitzer to find the first confirmed proof of buckyballs. Since then, Spitzer has detected the molecules again in our own galaxy -- as well as in the Small Magellanic Cloud. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech" src="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpegMod/PIA13551_modest.jpg"  width="95%"/>
</html>

[[Fresh after finding buckyballs around an aging star|NASA telescope finds elusive buckyballs]], NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has now detected these intriguing, miniature-soccer-ball-shaped molecules in interstellar space for the first time.

''With these new results, the buckyball claims the record for the largest molecule ever discovered floating between the stars''. The unique properties of [[buckyballs|C60: Buckminsterfullerene]] that have made these rounded particles such a hot area of research here on Earth also offer up some exciting possibilities for cosmic chemistry. 

Astronomers had long expected to find buckyballs in outer space. [[Kris Sellgren|http://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~sellgren/]], a professor of astronomy at The Ohio State University, and her team, while on the hunt for buckyballs in infrared data collected by Spitzer, looked at two nebulae.

Hints of interstellar buckyballs had first come in 1994, when [[Foing and Ehrenfreund|http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v369/n6478/abs/369296a0.html]] detected absorption lines they attributed to buckyballs missing an electron <<slider chkSldr [[Comment by Bernard H. Foing]]  [[Comment by Bernard H. Foing»]] [["other references where we confirmed the evidence for interstellar C60+"]]>>. 

Then, in 2004, Sellgren and her colleagues serendipitously detected two light signatures indicative of the faceted mini-globes. The researchers knew they had caught a buckyball for sure this time around when they saw a predicted third signature in infrared light from the nebulae.

Carbon is the key building block for life as we know it; the possibility exists that some of the very carbon in ours or even extraterrestrials' bodies might well have been balled up once as a buckyball crafted in space. "Now that there are buckyballs confirmed in the interstellar medium and in circumstellar space, it's likely that chemists will get more interested in the astrobiological implications of these fascinating molecules," Sellgren said. From [[Spitzer Goes Buck Wild and Finds Buckyballs Floating Between the Stars|http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/news/1212-feature10-18-Spitzer-Goes-Buck-Wild-and-Finds-Buckyballs-Floating-Between-the-Stars]] by Adam Hadhazy. This work is detailed in the paper [[C60 in Reflection Nebulae|http://iopscience.iop.org/2041-8205/722/1/L54]] by Kris Sellgren, Michael W. Werner, James G. Ingalls, J. D. T. Smith, T. M. Carleton and Christine Joblin <<slider chkSldr [[C60 in Reflection Nebulae]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>


''Spitzer detected buckyballs around a fourth dying star in a nearby galaxy in staggering quantities'' -- the equivalent in mass to about 15 of our moons. "It turns out that buckyballs are much more common and abundant in the universe than initially thought," said astronomer [[Letizia Stanghellini|http://www.noao.edu/noao/staff/letizia/]] of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory in Tucson, Ariz. "Spitzer had recently found them in one specific location, but now we see them in other environments. This has implications for the chemistry of life. It's possible that buckyballs from outer space provided seeds for life on Earth."

Anibal García-Hernández of the [[Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias|http://www.iac.es/divulgacion.php?op1=16&id=653]], Spain, and his team found the buckyballs around three dying sun-like stars, called planetary nebulae, in our own Milky Way galaxy. ''The new research shows that all the planetary nebulae in which buckyballs have been detected are rich in hydrogen''. This goes against what researchers thought for decades. "We now know that fullerenes and hydrogen coexist in planetary nebulae, which is really important for telling us how they form in space," said García-Hernández. They also located buckyballs in a planetary nebula within a nearby galaxy called the Small Magellanic Cloud. This was particularly exciting to the researchers, because, in contrast to the planetary nebulae in the Milky Way, the distance to this galaxy is known. Knowing the distance to the source of the buckyballs meant that the astronomers could calculate their quantity -- twenty percent of Earth's mass, or the mass of 15 of our moons.

The other new study, from Sellgren and her team, demonstrates that buckyballs are also present in the space between stars, but not too far away from young solar systems. The cosmic balls may have been formed in a planetary nebula, or perhaps between stars. "It’s exciting to find buckyballs in between stars that are still forming their solar systems, just a comet’s throw away," Sellgren said. "This could be the link between fullerenes in space and fullerenes in meteorites."

[[The implications are far-reaching|C60 by Harry Kroto]]. Scientists have speculated in the past that ''buckyballs, which can act like cages for other molecules and atoms, might have carried substances to Earth that kick-started life''. Evidence for this theory comes from the fact that buckyballs have been found in meteorites carrying extraterrestial gases. "Buckyballs are sort of like diamonds with holes in the middle," said Stanghellini. "They are incredibly stable molecules that are hard to destroy, and they could carry other interesting molecules inside them. We hope to learn more about the important role they likely play in the death and birth of stars and planets, and maybe even life itself." From [[Space Buckyballs Thrive, Finds NASA Spitzer Telescope|http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-351]]. This work is detailed in the paper [[Formation of Fullerenes in H-containing Planetary Nebulae|http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010ApJ...724L..39G]] by García-Hernández, D. A.; Manchado, A.; García-Lario, P.; Stanghellini, L.; Villaver, E.; Shaw, R. A.; Szczerba, R.; Perea-Calderón, J. V. <<slider chkSldr [[Formation of Fullerenes in H-containing Planetary Nebulae]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>

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}}}

{{twocolumns{
''What is Buckypaper?''

    A novel easy-to-handle thin film formed using carbon nanotubes or fibers
    Composed of single-walled, multi-walled carbon nanotubes or carbon nanofibers that undergo a repeatable and scalable manufacturing process
    Extremely thin (~25 microns) and and lightweight (areal density: 0.0705 oz/ft²)
    Thermally conductive
    Electrically conductive
    High mechanical strength and modulus
    High strain rate
    Highly efficient field emission
    Self-actuation

It's a car, it's a plane, it's...paper? Watch and learn how this revolutionary new carbon nanotube material could change the world and lead us toward a highly advanced, sustainable future. Learn more about Buckypaper and the High Performance Materials Institute at Florida State University here: http://www.hpmi.net/

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Buildings are majorly funcional, but in some special cases they become icons, as the olympic stadiums, airports, train stations, museums or bridges. 

Interestingly now, this concept has also arrived to the nanotechnology research buildings and beyond, underlaying the increasing public impact of this developing technology. Like the coming building of the new [[Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory|http://www.pr-inside.com/m-w-zander-selected-to-design-iberian-r634975.htm]] in Braga (Portugal), where the format and the substance/content are related.

Related to that there is the by Herzog & de Meuron [[40 Bond Street|http://www.40bond.com/]] building in New York, where a nanostructured coating ([[Diamon-Fusion|http://www.diamonfusion.com/en/news/pr121906.html]]) keeps the glasses clean saving time and resources. Or [[Richard Meier|http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/28/world/europe/28smog.html?n=Top/News/World/Countries%20and%20Territories/Italy]]'s Dives in [[Misericordia Church|http://www.richardmeier.com/Releases/Press_Jubilee_Text.htm]] in Rome (Italy) which has a ~TiO2 coating which in the presence of the UV light coming from the Sun, degrades combustion contaminants and maintain the walls clean and eats environmental smog too. This approach is also explored in a street in the town of Segrate, near Milan (Italy), using the same [[TX Active technology by Italcementi|http://www.italcementigroup.com/ENG/Research+and+Innovation/Innovative+Products/]]; the street with an average traffic of 1,000 cars per hour, has been repaved with the compound, and measures show a reduction in nitric oxides of around 60%

<br>Sanketh R. Gowda, Arava Leela Mohana Reddy, Xiaobo Zhan, and Pulickel M. Ajayan. 2011. ''ACS Nano Letters. doi:0.1021/nl2017042''

//Hybrid electrochemical energy storage devices combine the advantages of battery and supercapacitors, resulting in systems of high energy and power density. Using LiPF6 electrolyte, the Ni–Sn/PANI electrochemical system, free of Li-based electrodes, works on a hybrid mechanism based on Li intercalation at the anode and PF6– doping at the cathode. Here, we also demonstrate a composite nanostructure electrochemical device with the anode (Ni–Sn) and cathode (polyaniline, PANI) nanowires packaged within conformal polymer core–shell separator. Parallel array of these nanowire devices shows reversible areal capacity of 3 μAh/cm2 at a current rate of 0.03 mA/cm2. The work shows the ultimate miniaturization possible for energy storage devices where all essential components can be engineered on a single nanowire.//

//As our contribution to the celebration of [[25th Anniversary|10 October 2010]] of [[Buckminsterfullerene Discovery|C60: Buckminsterfullerene]] we publish an email by ''[[Harry Kroto|http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1996/kroto-autobio.html]]'' commenting on [[the discovery of buckyballs in space for the first time|NASA telescope finds elusive buckyballs]].//


from 	Harry Kroto
to     	josep saldana
date 	july 28, 2010 12:58
subject	C60
........................................................................
Hi Josep
Great isn't it and quite
nice for me as I predicted at this end of an Horizon Nova Programme
http://mediasite.apps.fsu.edu/Mediasite/Viewer/?peid=89aba1dfd9494329aff5122f129367f11d
This is the end of the 5th part on
http://www.cosmolearning.com/documentaries/molecules-with-sunglasses-364/

I was certain it would be present but quite amazed at its abundance I am now almost certain that C60 is ubiquitously distributed throughout many regions of the interstellar medium and if so this has some very interesting implications.

I have always said that Buckminsterfullerene the third form of carbon is a bit like Orson Welles in "the Third Man" see
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1148765209280
NASA quote
"Sir Harry Kroto, who shared the Nobel Prize in 1996 with Bob Curl and Rick Smalley for their discovery of buckyballs, said about the recent finding, "This most exciting breakthrough, provides convincing evidence that the buckyball has, as I long suspected, existed since time immemorial in the dark recesses of our galaxy. I think of the buckyball -- which is the third form of carbon -- as being like Orson Welles' mysterious character in 'The Third Man," revealing itself only fleetingly."

My very best wishes
       harry

-- 
Harold Kroto
Francis Eppes Professor of Chemistry
Chemistry and Biochemistry Department
The Florida State University
Tallahassee
Florida 32306-4390

www.kroto.info
www.vega.org.uk
www.geoset.info


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<br>//The fullerene C~~60~~ has four infrared-active vibrational transitions at 7.0, 8.5, 17.4, and 18.9 μm. We have previously observed emission features at 17.4 and 18.9 μm in the reflection nebula NGC 7023 and demonstrated spatial correlations suggestive of a common origin. We now confirm our earlier identification of these features with C~~60~~ by detecting a third emission feature at 7.04 ± 0.05 μm in NGC 7023. We also report the detection of these three C~~60~~ features in the reflection nebula NGC 2023. Our spectroscopic mapping of NGC 7023 shows that the 18.9 μm C60 feature peaks on the central star and that the 16.4 μm emission feature due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons peaks between the star and a nearby photodissociation front. The observed features in NGC 7023 are consistent with emission from UV-excited gas-phase C~~60~~. We find that 0.1%-0.6% of interstellar carbon is in C~~60~~; this abundance is consistent with those from previous upper limits and possible fullerene detections in the interstellar medium (ISM). This is the first firm detection of neutral C~~60~~ in the ISM.//

{{twocolumns{
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''How did viewing the stars lead to the discovery of a new form of Carbon? And why is it called a Buckyball?'' Interview with the 1996 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Sir Harold Kroto.

"During experiments aimed at understanding the mechanisms by which long-chain carbon molecules are formed in interstellar space and circumstellar shells, graphite has been vaporized by laser irradiation, producing a remarkably stable cluster consisting of 60 carbon atoms. Concerning the question of what kind of 60-carbon atom structure might give rise to a superstable species, we suggest a truncated icosahedron". From the paper ''[[C60: Buckminsterfullerene|http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v318/n6042/pdf/318162a0.pdf]]'' by H. W. Kroto, J. R. Heath, S. C. O'Brien, R. F. Curl & R. E. Smalley. Nature 318, 162 - 163 (14 November 1985)

"New forms of the element carbon - called [[fullerenes|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckminsterfullerene]] - in which the atoms are arranged in closed shells was discovered in September 1985 by Robert F. Curl, [[Harold W. Kroto|http://www.kroto.info/]] and Richard E. Smalley." From ''[[The discovery of carbon atoms bound in the form of a ball is rewarded|http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1996/press.html]]''. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1996

Related news list by date, most recent first: <<matchTags popup sort:-created educational>><<matchTags popup sort:-created milestone>><<matchTags popup sort:-created fullerene>><<matchTags popup sort:-created astronomy>><<matchTags popup sort:-created video>>


}}}

{{twocolumns{
[[World Community Grid|http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/]], a worldwide network of PC owners helping scientists solve humanitarian challenges, announced several computing projects aimed at developing techniques to produce cleaner and safer water, an increasingly scarce commodity eluding at least 1.2 billion people worldwide.

One new water-related project, called ''[["Computing For Clean Water,"|http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/research/c4cw/overview.do]]'' is looking to produce more efficient and effective water filtering, and is now getting underway at [[Tsinghua University|http://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/eng/]]'s newly launched [[Centre for Novel Multidisciplinary Mechanics|http://cnmm.tsinghua.edu.cn/contents/1/89.html]] in China. The idea is to develop ways to filter and scrub polluted water, as well as convert saltwater into drinkable freshwater, with less expense, complexity, and energy than current techniques.

The effort will seek to reduce the pressure and energy required to force water through microscopic, nanometer-sized pores in tubes made of carbon, whose tiny holes prevent harmful organic material from being transmitted. ''Scientists need to produce millions of computer simulations to model how water molecules interact with one another and against the walls of these carbon nanotubes.''

Although led by China's Tsignhua University, researchers are participating from all over the world, including Australia's [[University of Sydney|http://www.usyd.edu.au/]] and [[Monash University|http://www.monash.edu.au/]]; as well as the [[Citizen Cyberscience Centre|http://www.citizencyberscience.net/]], based in Geneva, Switzerland. The project is the result of an initiative launched by the Chinese Academy of Sciences to promote volunteer participation in science. It is called CAS@home, and is hosted by the [[Institute of High Energy Physics|http://english.ihep.cas.cn/prs/ue/201002/t20100224_50975.html]] in Beijing. 

In the last 100 years, global water usage has increased at twice the rate of population growth. The United Nations predicts that nearly half the world’s population will experience critical water shortages by the year 2025.

''Individuals can donate time on their computers for these and many other humanitarian projects'' by registering on [[www.worldcommunitygrid.org|http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org]], and installing a free, unobtrusive and secure software program on their personal computers running either Linux, Microsoft Windows or Mac OS. When idle or between keystrokes on a lightweight task, the PCs request data from World Community Grid's server, which runs Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing (BOINC) software, maintained at Berkeley University and supported by the National Science Foundation. Source: [[IBM'S World Community Grid Unveils Research Projects on Three Continents to Improve Water Quality|http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/32422.wss]]

''Related news'' list by date, most recent first: <<matchTags popup sort:-created water>><<matchTags popup sort:-created open>><<matchTags popup sort:-created video>>
''Share this content on Twitter:'' <html><a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="horizontal" data-via="nanowiki">Tweet</a></html><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" show></script>

<html><object id="flashObj" width="100%" height="405" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"> <param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/1886158524?isVid=1&isUI=true" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /> <param name="flashVars" value="videoId=603372389001&playerID=1886158524&domain=embed&autoStart=false&embedDate=Sun%20Sep%2012%202010&embedFromUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww-03.ibm.com%2Fpress%2Fus%2Fen%2Fpressrelease%2F32422.wss" /> <param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /> <param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" /> <embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/1886158524?isVid=1&isUI=true" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=603372389001&playerID=1886158524&domain=embed&autoStart=false&embedDate=Sun%20Sep%2012%202010&embedFromUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww-03.ibm.com%2Fpress%2Fus%2Fen%2Fpressrelease%2F32422.wss" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="100%" height="405" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="never" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object></html>
}}}

~CytImmune, a clinical stage nanomedicine company focused on the development and commercialization of multifunctional, tumor-targeted therapies presented at the 43rd American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual meeting. The poster, entitled “Preliminary Results of a Phase 1 Clinical Trial of ~CYT-6091: A ~PEGylated colloidal gold-TNF nanomedicine,” announced the preliminary data of a National Cancer Institute conducted and ~CytImmune Sciences sponsored Phase 1 trial of ~CYT-6091 (Aurimune), ~CytImmune’s lead drug compound. The Phase 1 clinical trial was designed to investigate whether: (1) Aurimune will perform identically in humans as it did in preclinical studies and companion animals and (2) the fever side effect observed in preclinical studies can be easily managed and separated from hypotension – the dose limiting side effect of the active pharmaceutical ingredient.

“Presenting preliminary Phase 1 trial results to the leading body of international oncology experts helps pave the way for nanomedicines as the next generation of targeted cancer therapies and their use in improving the biodelivery of potent, but highly toxic therapeutics. We believe ~CYT-6091 has the potential to become a new, versatile therapeutic which may be used to treat a broad spectrum of solid tumors.” said Dr. Lawrence Tamarkin, CEO of ~CytImmune Sciences.

Source: [[CytImmune Presents Positive CYT-6091 Data|http://www.cytimmune.com/download/releases/CytImmune_ASCO_Release_Final6_3_061.pdf]]

This scientist use the fact that blood vessels surrounding the tumors are leaky due to their fast growth providing thus a way to passively target the tumor efficiently avoiding (or decreasing) deleterious secondary effects of antineoplastic drugs.

''Related news'' list by date, most recent first: <<matchTags popup sort:-created nanomedicine>><<matchTags popup sort:-created nano-oncology>><<matchTags popup sort:-created [[Victor Puntes]]>>

/***
|Name|CalendarPlugin|
|Source|http://www.TiddlyTools.com/#CalendarPlugin|
|Version|1.5.0|
|Author|Eric Shulman|
|Original Author|SteveRumsby|
|License|unknown|
|~CoreVersion|2.1|
|Type|plugin|
|Description|display monthly and yearly calendars|
NOTE: For //enhanced// date popup display, optionally install [[DatePlugin]] and [[ReminderMacros]]
!!!Usage:
<<<
|{{{<<calendar>>}}}|full-year calendar for the current year|
|{{{<<calendar year>>}}}|full-year calendar for the specified year|
|{{{<<calendar year month>>}}}|one month calendar for the specified month and year|
|{{{<<calendar thismonth>>}}}|one month calendar for the current month|
|{{{<<calendar lastmonth>>}}}|one month calendar for last month|
|{{{<<calendar nextmonth>>}}}|one month calendar for next month|
|{{{<<calendar +n>>}}}<br>{{{<<calendar -n>>}}}|one month calendar for a month +/- 'n' months from now|
<<<
!!!Configuration:
<<<
|''First day of week:''<br>{{{config.options.txtCalFirstDay}}}|<<option txtCalFirstDay>>|(Monday = 0, Sunday = 6)|
|''First day of weekend:''<br>{{{config.options.txtCalStartOfWeekend}}}|<<option txtCalStartOfWeekend>>|(Monday = 0, Sunday = 6)|

<<option chkDisplayWeekNumbers>> Display week numbers //(note: Monday will be used as the start of the week)//
|''Week number display format:''<br>{{{config.options.txtWeekNumberDisplayFormat }}}|<<option txtWeekNumberDisplayFormat >>|
|''Week number link format:''<br>{{{config.options.txtWeekNumberLinkFormat }}}|<<option txtWeekNumberLinkFormat >>|
<<<
!!!Revisions
<<<
2009.04.31 [1.5.0] rewrote onClickCalendarDate() (popup handler) and added config.options.txtCalendarReminderTags.  Partial code reduction/cleanup.  Assigned true version number (1.5.0)
2008.09.10 added '+n' (and '-n') param to permit display of relative months (e.g., '+6' means 'six months from now', '-3' means 'three months ago'.  Based on suggestion from Jean.
2008.06.17 added support for config.macros.calendar.todaybg
2008.02.27 in handler(), DON'T set hard-coded default date format, so that *customized* value (pre-defined in config.macros.calendar.journalDateFmt is used.
2008.02.17 in createCalendarYear(), fix next/previous year calculation (use parseInt() to convert to numeric value).  Also, use journalDateFmt for date linking when NOT using [[DatePlugin]].
2008.02.16 in createCalendarDay(), week numbers now created as TiddlyLinks, allowing quick creation/navigation to 'weekly' journals (based on request from Kashgarinn)
2008.01.08 in createCalendarMonthHeader(), 'month year' heading is now created as TiddlyLink, allowing quick creation/navigation to 'month-at-a-time' journals
2007.11.30 added 'return false' to onclick handlers (prevent IE from opening blank pages)
2006.08.23 added handling for weeknumbers (code supplied by Martin Budden (see 'wn**' comment marks).  Also, incorporated updated by Jeremy Sheeley to add caching for reminders (see [[ReminderMacros]], if installed)
2005.10.30 in config.macros.calendar.handler(), use 'tbody' element for IE compatibility.  Also, fix year calculation for IE's getYear() function (which returns '2005' instead of '105'). Also, in createCalendarDays(), use showDate() function (see [[DatePlugin]], if installed) to render autostyled date with linked popup.  Updated calendar stylesheet definition: use .calendar class-specific selectors, add text centering and margin settings
2006.05.29 added journalDateFmt handling
<<<
!!!Code
***/
//{{{
version.extensions.CalendarPlugin= { major: 1, minor: 5, revision: 0, date: new Date(2009,5,31)};
//}}}
//{{{
if(config.options.txtCalFirstDay == undefined)
	config.options.txtCalFirstDay = 0;
if(config.options.txtCalStartOfWeekend == undefined)
	config.options.txtCalStartOfWeekend = 5;
if(config.options.chkDisplayWeekNumbers == undefined)
	config.options.chkDisplayWeekNumbers = false;
if(config.options.chkDisplayWeekNumbers)
	config.options.txtCalFirstDay = 0;
if(config.options.txtWeekNumberDisplayFormat == undefined)
	config.options.txtWeekNumberDisplayFormat = 'w0WW';
if(config.options.txtWeekNumberLinkFormat == undefined)
	config.options.txtWeekNumberLinkFormat = 'YYYY-w0WW';
if(config.options.txtCalendarReminderTags == undefined)
	config.options.txtCalendarReminderTags = 'reminder';

config.macros.calendar = {
	monthnames:['Jan','Feb','Mar','Apr','May','Jun','Jul','Aug','Sep','Oct','Nov','Dec'],
	daynames:['M','T','W','T','F','S','S'],
	todaybg:'#ccccff',
	weekendbg:'#c0c0c0',
	monthbg:'#e0e0e0',
	holidaybg:'#ffc0c0',
	journalDateFmt:'DD MMM YYYY',
	monthdays:[31,28,31,30,31,30,31,31,30,31,30,31],
	holidays:[ ] // for customization see [[CalendarPluginConfig]]
};
//}}}
//{{{
function calendarIsHoliday(date)
{
	var longHoliday = date.formatString('0DD/0MM/YYYY');
	var shortHoliday = date.formatString('0DD/0MM');
	for(var i = 0; i < config.macros.calendar.holidays.length; i++) {
		if(   config.macros.calendar.holidays[i]==longHoliday
		   || config.macros.calendar.holidays[i]==shortHoliday)
			return true;
	}
	return false;
}
//}}}
//{{{
config.macros.calendar.handler = function(place,macroName,params) {
	var calendar = createTiddlyElement(place, 'table', null, 'calendar', null);
	var tbody = createTiddlyElement(calendar, 'tbody');
	var today = new Date();
	var year = today.getYear();
	if (year<1900) year+=1900;

 	// get journal format from SideBarOptions (ELS 5/29/06 - suggested by MartinBudden)
	var text = store.getTiddlerText('SideBarOptions');
	var re = new RegExp('<<(?:newJournal)([^>]*)>>','mg'); var fm = re.exec(text);
	if (fm && fm[1]!=null) { var pa=fm[1].readMacroParams(); if (pa[0]) this.journalDateFmt = pa[0]; }

	var month=-1;
	if (params[0] == 'thismonth') {
		var month=today.getMonth();
	} else if (params[0] == 'lastmonth') {
		var month = today.getMonth()-1; if (month==-1) { month=11; year--; }
	} else if (params[0] == 'nextmonth') {
		var month = today.getMonth()+1; if (month>11) { month=0; year++; }
	} else if (params[0]&&'+-'.indexOf(params[0].substr(0,1))!=-1) {
		var month = today.getMonth()+parseInt(params[0]);
		if (month>11) { year+=Math.floor(month/12); month%=12; };
		if (month<0)  { year+=Math.floor(month/12); month=12+month%12; }
	} else if (params[0]) {
		year = params[0];
		if(params[1]) month=parseInt(params[1])-1;
		if (month>11) month=11; if (month<0) month=0;
	}

	if (month!=-1) {
		cacheReminders(new Date(year, month, 1, 0, 0), 31);
		createCalendarOneMonth(tbody, year, month);
	} else {
		cacheReminders(new Date(year, 0, 1, 0, 0), 366);
		createCalendarYear(tbody, year);
	}
	window.reminderCacheForCalendar = null;
}
//}}}
//{{{
// cache used to store reminders while the calendar is being rendered
// it will be renulled after the calendar is fully rendered.
window.reminderCacheForCalendar = null;
//}}}
//{{{
function cacheReminders(date, leadtime)
{
	if (window.findTiddlersWithReminders == null) return;
	window.reminderCacheForCalendar = {};
	var leadtimeHash = [];
	leadtimeHash [0] = 0;
	leadtimeHash [1] = leadtime;
	var t = findTiddlersWithReminders(date, leadtimeHash, null, 1);
	for(var i = 0; i < t.length; i++) {
		//just tag it in the cache, so that when we're drawing days, we can bold this one.
		window.reminderCacheForCalendar[t[i]['matchedDate']] = 'reminder:' + t[i]['params']['title']; 
	}
}
//}}}
//{{{
function createCalendarOneMonth(calendar, year, mon)
{
	var row = createTiddlyElement(calendar, 'tr');
	createCalendarMonthHeader(calendar, row, config.macros.calendar.monthnames[mon]+' '+year, true, year, mon);
	row = createTiddlyElement(calendar, 'tr');
	createCalendarDayHeader(row, 1);
	createCalendarDayRowsSingle(calendar, year, mon);
}
//}}}
//{{{
function createCalendarMonth(calendar, year, mon)
{
	var row = createTiddlyElement(calendar, 'tr');
	createCalendarMonthHeader(calendar, row, config.macros.calendar.monthnames[mon]+' '+ year, false, year, mon);
	row = createTiddlyElement(calendar, 'tr');
	createCalendarDayHeader(row, 1);
	createCalendarDayRowsSingle(calendar, year, mon);
}
//}}}
//{{{
function createCalendarYear(calendar, year)
{
	var row;
	row = createTiddlyElement(calendar, 'tr');
	var back = createTiddlyElement(row, 'td');
	var backHandler = function() {
		removeChildren(calendar);
		createCalendarYear(calendar, parseInt(year)-1);
		return false; // consume click
	};
	createTiddlyButton(back, '<', 'Previous year', backHandler);
	back.align = 'center';
	var yearHeader = createTiddlyElement(row, 'td', null, 'calendarYear', year);
	yearHeader.align = 'center';
	yearHeader.setAttribute('colSpan',config.options.chkDisplayWeekNumbers?22:19);//wn**
	var fwd = createTiddlyElement(row, 'td');
	var fwdHandler = function() {
		removeChildren(calendar);
		createCalendarYear(calendar, parseInt(year)+1);
		return false; // consume click
	};
	createTiddlyButton(fwd, '>', 'Next year', fwdHandler);
	fwd.align = 'center';
	createCalendarMonthRow(calendar, year, 0);
	createCalendarMonthRow(calendar, year, 3);
	createCalendarMonthRow(calendar, year, 6);
	createCalendarMonthRow(calendar, year, 9);
}
//}}}
//{{{
function createCalendarMonthRow(cal, year, mon)
{
	var row = createTiddlyElement(cal, 'tr');
	createCalendarMonthHeader(cal, row, config.macros.calendar.monthnames[mon], false, year, mon);
	createCalendarMonthHeader(cal, row, config.macros.calendar.monthnames[mon+1], false, year, mon);
	createCalendarMonthHeader(cal, row, config.macros.calendar.monthnames[mon+2], false, year, mon);
	row = createTiddlyElement(cal, 'tr');
	createCalendarDayHeader(row, 3);
	createCalendarDayRows(cal, year, mon);
}
//}}}
//{{{
function createCalendarMonthHeader(cal, row, name, nav, year, mon)
{
	var month;
	if (nav) {
		var back = createTiddlyElement(row, 'td');
		back.align = 'center';
		back.style.background = config.macros.calendar.monthbg;

		var backMonHandler = function() {
			var newyear = year;
			var newmon = mon-1;
			if(newmon == -1) { newmon = 11; newyear = newyear-1;}
			removeChildren(cal);
			cacheReminders(new Date(newyear, newmon , 1, 0, 0), 31);
			createCalendarOneMonth(cal, newyear, newmon);
			return false; // consume click
		};
		createTiddlyButton(back, '<', 'Previous month', backMonHandler);
		month = createTiddlyElement(row, 'td', null, 'calendarMonthname')
		createTiddlyLink(month,name,true);
		month.setAttribute('colSpan', config.options.chkDisplayWeekNumbers?6:5);//wn**
		var fwd = createTiddlyElement(row, 'td');
		fwd.align = 'center';
		fwd.style.background = config.macros.calendar.monthbg; 

		var fwdMonHandler = function() {
			var newyear = year;
			var newmon = mon+1;
			if(newmon == 12) { newmon = 0; newyear = newyear+1;}
			removeChildren(cal);
			cacheReminders(new Date(newyear, newmon , 1, 0, 0), 31);
			createCalendarOneMonth(cal, newyear, newmon);
			return false; // consume click
		};
		createTiddlyButton(fwd, '>', 'Next month', fwdMonHandler);
	} else {
		month = createTiddlyElement(row, 'td', null, 'calendarMonthname', name)
		month.setAttribute('colSpan',config.options.chkDisplayWeekNumbers?8:7);//wn**
	}
	month.align = 'center';
	month.style.background = config.macros.calendar.monthbg;
}
//}}}
//{{{
function createCalendarDayHeader(row, num)
{
	var cell;
	for(var i = 0; i < num; i++) {
		if (config.options.chkDisplayWeekNumbers) createTiddlyElement(row, 'td');//wn**
		for(var j = 0; j < 7; j++) {
			var d = j + (config.options.txtCalFirstDay - 0);
			if(d > 6) d = d - 7;
			cell = createTiddlyElement(row, 'td', null, null, config.macros.calendar.daynames[d]);
			if(d == (config.options.txtCalStartOfWeekend-0) || d == (config.options.txtCalStartOfWeekend-0+1))
				cell.style.background = config.macros.calendar.weekendbg;
		}
	}
}
//}}}
//{{{
function createCalendarDays(row, col, first, max, year, mon) {
	var i;
	if (config.options.chkDisplayWeekNumbers){
		if (first<=max) {
			var ww = new Date(year,mon,first);
			var td=createTiddlyElement(row, 'td');//wn**
			var link=createTiddlyLink(td,ww.formatString(config.options.txtWeekNumberLinkFormat),false);
			link.appendChild(document.createTextNode(
				ww.formatString(config.options.txtWeekNumberDisplayFormat)));
		}
		else createTiddlyElement(row, 'td');//wn**
	}
	for(i = 0; i < col; i++)
		createTiddlyElement(row, 'td');
	var day = first;
	for(i = col; i < 7; i++) {
		var d = i + (config.options.txtCalFirstDay - 0);
		if(d > 6) d = d - 7;
		var daycell = createTiddlyElement(row, 'td');
		var isaWeekend=((d==(config.options.txtCalStartOfWeekend-0)
			|| d==(config.options.txtCalStartOfWeekend-0+1))?true:false);
		if(day > 0 && day <= max) {
			var celldate = new Date(year, mon, day);
			// ELS 10/30/05 - use <<date>> macro's showDate() function to create popup
			// ELS 05/29/06 - use journalDateFmt 
			if (window.showDate) showDate(daycell,celldate,'popup','DD',
				config.macros.calendar.journalDateFmt,true, isaWeekend);
			else {
				if(isaWeekend) daycell.style.background = config.macros.calendar.weekendbg;
				var title = celldate.formatString(config.macros.calendar.journalDateFmt);
				if(calendarIsHoliday(celldate))
					daycell.style.background = config.macros.calendar.holidaybg;
				var now=new Date();
				if ((now-celldate>=0) && (now-celldate<86400000)) // is today?
					daycell.style.background = config.macros.calendar.todaybg;
				if(window.findTiddlersWithReminders == null) {
					var link = createTiddlyLink(daycell, title, false);
					link.appendChild(document.createTextNode(day));
				} else
					var button = createTiddlyButton(daycell, day, title, onClickCalendarDate);
			}
		}
		day++;
	}
}
//}}}
//{{{
// Create a pop-up containing:
// * a link to a tiddler for this date
// * a 'new tiddler' link to add a reminder for this date
// * links to current reminders for this date
// NOTE: this code is only used if [[ReminderMacros]] is installed AND [[DatePlugin]] is //not// installed.
function onClickCalendarDate(ev) { ev=ev||window.event;
	var d=new Date(this.getAttribute('title')); var date=d.formatString(config.macros.calendar.journalDateFmt);
	var p=Popup.create(this);  if (!p) return;
	createTiddlyLink(createTiddlyElement(p,'li'),date,true);
	var rem='\\n\\<\\<reminder day:%0 month:%1 year:%2 title: \\>\\>';
	rem=rem.format([d.getDate(),d.getMonth()+1,d.getYear()+1900]);
	var cmd="<<newTiddler label:[[new reminder...]] prompt:[[add a new reminder to '%0']]"
		+" title:[[%0]] text:{{store.getTiddlerText('%0','')+'%1'}} tag:%2>>";
	wikify(cmd.format([date,rem,config.options.txtCalendarReminderTags]),p);
	createTiddlyElement(p,'hr');
	var t=findTiddlersWithReminders(d,[0,31],null,1);
	for(var i=0; i<t.length; i++) {
		var link=createTiddlyLink(createTiddlyElement(p,'li'), t[i].tiddler, false);
		link.appendChild(document.createTextNode(t[i]['params']['title']));
	}
	Popup.show(); ev.cancelBubble=true; if (ev.stopPropagation) ev.stopPropagation(); return false;
}
//}}}
//{{{
function calendarMaxDays(year, mon)
{
	var max = config.macros.calendar.monthdays[mon];
	if(mon == 1 && (year % 4) == 0 && ((year % 100) != 0 || (year % 400) == 0)) max++;
	return max;
}
//}}}
//{{{
function createCalendarDayRows(cal, year, mon)
{
	var row = createTiddlyElement(cal, 'tr');
	var first1 = (new Date(year, mon, 1)).getDay() -1 - (config.options.txtCalFirstDay-0);
	if(first1 < 0) first1 = first1 + 7;
	var day1 = -first1 + 1;
	var first2 = (new Date(year, mon+1, 1)).getDay() -1 - (config.options.txtCalFirstDay-0);
	if(first2 < 0) first2 = first2 + 7;
	var day2 = -first2 + 1;
	var first3 = (new Date(year, mon+2, 1)).getDay() -1 - (config.options.txtCalFirstDay-0);
	if(first3 < 0) first3 = first3 + 7;
	var day3 = -first3 + 1;

	var max1 = calendarMaxDays(year, mon);
	var max2 = calendarMaxDays(year, mon+1);
	var max3 = calendarMaxDays(year, mon+2);

	while(day1 <= max1 || day2 <= max2 || day3 <= max3) {
		row = createTiddlyElement(cal, 'tr');
		createCalendarDays(row, 0, day1, max1, year, mon); day1 += 7;
		createCalendarDays(row, 0, day2, max2, year, mon+1); day2 += 7;
		createCalendarDays(row, 0, day3, max3, year, mon+2); day3 += 7;
	}
}
//}}}
//{{{
function createCalendarDayRowsSingle(cal, year, mon)
{
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As co chair of the IMERA Art Science program I am pleased to bring to your attention

''IMERA, the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (http://www.imera.fr), has issued a call for proposals for art science residencies with a deadline of January 31 2011.''

We seek residencies by either artists ( all disciplines) or scientists (all disciplines, soft and hard) who wish to engage in collaborative art-science projects that result in joint outcomes ( publications, artworks, Exhibitions, patents) that address ‘the human conditions of the sciences”.

For the international year of chemistry ( http://www.chemistry2011.org/  ) we are particularly interested in  art science projects involving chemistry and nanoscience. Current residents include nano scientist Jim Gimzewski ( http://artsci.ucla.edu/?q=people/james_gimzewski  ) co director of the UCLA Art-Sci Lab. IMERA advisors include nano scientist Guy Lelay (http://sysweb.cinam.univ-mrs.fr/cinam/spip.php?rubrique35) and chemist Denis Bertin (http://www.lc-provence.fr/)

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A research group led by Professor Noriaki Ohuchi, Senior Assistant Professor Kohsuke Gonda at Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University and Professor Hideo Higuchi at Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo has developed an optical system to image with a spatial precision of 9 nanometer in vivo. The optical system enables to visualize protein and drug at single molecular level in tumor-bearing mice which is implanted with human breast cancer cells. The most terrible biological property of cancer is its ability to spread to other organs. The research group labeled the metastasis-promoting protein on the cell membrane with fluorescence particle and has analyzed the protein dynamics with the newly developed optical device. In this study, they firstly discovered following cancer mechanisms using mice:
1. A change of cell morphology is important for cancer metastasis.
2. Cancer cells showed increases in migration speed (diffusion speed) of membrane protein (over 1000-fold) with progression of metastasis. The change of migration speed is important for activation of cancer metastasis.

''A cancer metastasis mechanism at molecular level has long been unknown because a spatial precision of previous in vivo imaging was at micrometer level. This study enable to visualize the mechanism of cancer metastasis at molecular level''. The results are expected to clarify an activation mechanism of cancer metastasis, evaluate malignant grade by mesuring membrane protein migration speed, and develop a new treatment with improved anticancer drug. Source: [[Visualization of a cancer metastasis mechanism at nanometer level: Discovery of dramatic changes of membrane dynamics in cancer cells during metastasis|http://www.tohoku.ac.jp/english/2010/02/eng-achieve-20100203-01.html]]. This work is detailed in the paper [[“In vivo nano-imaging of membrane dynamics in metastatic tumor cells using quantum dots”|http://www.jbc.org/content/early/2009/11/16/jbc.M109.075374.abstract]] by Kohsuke Gonda, Tomonobu M. Watanabe, Noriaki Ohuchi and Hideo Higuchi.

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<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px" src="img/candle.jpg" title="Professor Wuzong Zhou seeing a candle. Credit: Courtesy of University of St Andrews" class="photo"  width="95%"/></html>The flickering flame of a candle has generated comparisons with the twinkling sparkle of diamonds for centuries, but new research has discovered the likeness owes more to science than the dreams of poets.

Professor Wuzong Zhou, Professor of Chemistry at the University of St Andrews has discovered tiny diamond particles exist in candle flames.

His research has made a scientific leap towards solving a mystery which has befuddled people for thousands of years.

Since the first candle was invented in ancient China more than 2,000 years ago, many have longed to know what hidden secrets its flames contained.

Professor Zhou's investigation revealed ''around 1.5 million diamond nanoparticles are created every second in a candle flame as it burns''.

The leading academic revealed he uncovered the secret ingredient after a challenge from a fellow scientist in combustion.

Professor Zhou said: "A colleague at another university said to me: "Of course no-one knows what a candle flame is actually made of."

"I told him I believed science could explain everything eventually, so I decided to find out."

Using a new sampling technique, assisted by his student Mr Zixue Su, he invented himself, he was able to remove particles from the centre of the flame – something never successfully achieved before – and found to his surprise that ''a candle flame contains all four known forms of carbon''.

Professor Zhou said: "This was a surprise because each form is usually created under different conditions."

At the bottom of the flame, it was already known that hydro-carbon molecules existed which were converted into carbon dioxide by the top of the flame.

But the process in between remained a mystery.

Now both diamond nanoparticles and fullerenic particles have been discovered in the centre of the flame, along with graphitic and amorphous carbon.

The discovery could lead to future research into how diamonds, a key substance in industry, could be created more cheaply, and in a more environmentally friendly way.

Professor Zhou added: "Unfortunately the diamond particles are burned away in the process, and converted into carbon dioxide, but this will change the way we view a candle flame forever."

The famous scientist Michael Faraday in his celebrated 19th century lectures on "The Chemical History of a Candle" said in an 1860 address to the light: "You have the glittering beauty of gold and silver, and the still higher lustre of jewels, like the ruby and diamond; but none of these rival the brilliancy and beauty of flame. What diamond can shine like flame?"

Rosey Barnet, Artistic Director of one of Scotland’s biggest candle manufacturers, Shearer Candles, described the finding as "exciting".

She said: "We were thrilled to hear about the discovery that diamond particles exist in a candle flame.

"Although currently there is no way of extracting these particles, it is still an exciting find and one that could change the way people view candles. The research at St Andrews University will be of interest to the entire candle making industry. We always knew candles added sparkle to a room but now scientific research has provided us with more insight into why." Source: [[Candle flames contain millions of tiny diamonds|http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2011/Title,72748,en.html]]

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''Imagine a car which body also serves as a rechargeable battery. A battery that stores braking energy while you drive and that also stores energy when you plug in the car overnight to recharge''. At the moment this is just a fascinating idea, but tests are currently under way to see if the vision can be transformed into reality. Volvo Cars is one out of nine participants in an international materials development project.

Among the foremost challenges in the development of hybrids and electric cars are the size, weight and cost of the current generation of batteries. In order to deliver sufficient capacity using today's technology, it is necessary to fit large batteries, which in turn increases the car's weight.

Earlier this year, a [[materials development project was launched by Imperial College|http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_5-2-2010-10-26-39]] in London that brings together nine European companies and institutes. Volvo Cars is the only car manufacturer participating in the project. With the help of 35 million SEK (approx. 3.5 million EURO) in financial support from the European Union (EU), ''a composite blend of carbon fibres and polymer resin is being developed that can store and charge more energy faster than conventional batteries can. At the same time, the material is extremely strong and pliant, which means it can be shaped for use in building the car's body panels''. According to calculations, the car's weight could be cut by as much as 15 percent if steel body panels were replaced with the new material.

The project will continue for three years. In the first stage, work focuses both on developing the composite material so it can store more energy and on studying ways of producing the material on an industrial scale. Only in the final stage will the battery be fitted to a car.

"Our role is to contribute expertise on how this technology can be integrated in the future and to input ideas about the advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost and user-friendliness," says Per-Ivar Sellergren, development engineer at the Volvo Cars Materials Centre.

Initially, the car's spare wheel recess will be converted into a composite battery. "This is a relatively large structure that is easy to replace. Not sufficiently large to power the entire car, but enough to switch the engine off and on when the car is at a standstill, for instance at traffic lights," says Per-Ivar Sellergren.

If the project is successful, there are many possible application areas. For instance, mobile phones will be able to be as slim as credit cards and laptops will manage longer without needing to be recharged. Source: From [[Tomorrow's Volvo car: body panels serve as the car battery|https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/enhanced/en-gb/media/preview.aspx?mediaid=35026]]


The researchers say that the composite material that they are developing, which is made of carbon fibres and a polymer resin, will store and discharge large amounts of energy much more quickly than conventional batteries. In addition, ''the material does not use chemical processes, making it quicker to recharge than conventional batteries. Furthermore, this recharging process causes little degradation in the composite material, because it does not involve a chemical reaction, whereas conventional batteries degrade over time''.

For the first stage of the project, the scientists are planning to further develop their composite material so that it can store more energy. The team will improve the material’s mechanical properties by growing carbon nanotubes on the surface of the carbon fibres, which should also increase the surface area of the material, which would improve its capacity to store more energy. Source: From [[Cars of the future could be powered by their bodywork thanks to new battery technology|http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_5-2-2010-10-26-39]]

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{{twocolumns{
Earth’s carbon cycle is overburdened. We emit more carbon into the atmosphere than natural processes are able to remove - an imbalance with negative consequences. Carbon Cycle 2.0 is a [[Berkeley Lab|http://www.lbl.gov/LBL-PID/LBL-Overview.html]] initiative to provide the science needed to restore this balance by integrating the Lab’s diverse research activities and delivering creative solutions toward a carbon-neutral energy future.

Carbon Cycle 2.0 means collaboration 2.0: tackling one of the greatest challenges facing the nation and world will require an urgent and more creative take on the kind of cross-disciplinary problem solving needed to bridge the gap between basic and applied research. In the spirit of what made Berkeley Lab great, the entire Lab community must take initiative and engage on CC2.0 for it to be a success. Source: [[Berkeley Lab - Carbon Cycle 2.0|http://carboncycle2.lbl.gov/]]


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"With carbon, we know how to make things very small," said Ohldag. "On the other hand we know a lot about how to process and store information using magnetism. This opens up the door for future studies that will lead to improved magnetism in carbon that could one day we will be able to combine the Ã¢â‚¬Ëœmagnetic' and the Ã¢â‚¬Ëœcarbon' world."

Harnessing the magnetic properties of carbon could one day revolutionize a range of fields from nanotechnology to electronics. Carbon nanodevices could be built one atom at a time, leading to miniaturized machines and lightweight electronics. Magnetism, which forms the basis of information storage and processing in computer hard drives, could be employed in novel ways in tomorrow's electronic devices. 

Source: [[Carbon Joins the Magnetic Club|http://www.physorg.com/news98111007.html]]

<<matchTags popup sort:-created nanomaterial>>

Next Alternative Inc. introduces Carbon Nanotube Technology with a car battery that has eight times the charge capacity of a regular battery and recharges in just minutes.

[[Next Alternative Inc.|http://www.next-alternative.com]] wants to steer the future of the electric car and the U.S. auto industry itself into greener, and much more distant, pastures. Destinations that were once unattainable by the most efficient battery-powered cars will be an easy road trip with one of the company's new [[Carbon Nano Tube|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_nanotube]] batteries (CNT Battery) under the hood.

With 8 times the Reserve Capacity (RC) of typical lead/acid batteries, ''CNT Battery technology allows cars to travel hundreds of miles between charges, up to an estimated 380 miles per charge. Even more impressive, CNT Batteries recharge in ten minutes from a regular electrical outlet'', about the time it takes for a highway road trip pit stop. An hour's worth of recharging could add up to a pollution-free, coast-to-coast trip through Capitol Hill. The battery can be modified to the specifications of existing batteries.

''CNT batteries provide the hybrid and electric car markets with a battery that far exceeds anything currently available to them at this time''. [[Micro Bubble Technology, Inc. (MBTI)|http://www.microbubbletech.com/CNTbattery.html]], based in South Korea, developed CNT Battery technology. Carbon Nanotubes are tiny tubular structures composed of a single layer of carbon atoms. MBTI developed a proprietary method of coating the anode, cathodes and modifying the electrolyte with Carbon Nano Tubes. The diminutive tubes hold 8 times as much energy as the lead in lead/acid batteries, and can hold a minimum of 2 times as much energy as rechargeable lithium batteries.

"CNT Batteries are superior to lead/acid batteries, lithium batteries and the silicone batteries powering electric cars today. Silicone based batteries perform better than current lead/acid batteries but do not allow electric vehicles to have a long range and require lengthy recharge times. Lithium-based batteries are expensive to produce and have lengthy recharge times. CNT technology will revolutionize the electric car industry, propelling it forward with battery that gives cars a much longer range and minimal recharge time." Next Alternative, Inc., President and CEO, Robert Ireland

As the U.S. government pushes for less dependence on fossil fuels through the development of alternative energy solutions, and leans on auto manufactures to create greener, more fuel efficient vehicles, the introduction of CNT batteries may just give the U.S. auto manufacturers the extra boost to help get their businesses back up to speed. Source: From ''[[Could Carbon Nano Tube Batteries Help Drive the Recovery of the Auto Manufacturers?|http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/08/prweb2732154.htm]]''.

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Cables made of carbon nanotubes are inching toward electrical conductivities seen in metal wires, and that may light up interest among a range of industries, according to Rice University researchers. A Rice lab made such a cable from double-walled carbon nanotubes and powered a fluorescent light bulb at standard line voltage -- ''a true test of the novel material's ability to stake a claim in energy systems of the future''. 

<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px" src="img/cnt_wiring.jpg" title="Rice University researchers, from left, Robert Vajtai, Enrique Barrera and Yao Zhao have created a conductive cable from iodine-doped nanotubes capable of carrying household current. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)" class="photo"  width="50%"/></html>Highly conductive nanotube-based cables could be just as efficient as traditional metals at a sixth of the weight, said Enrique Barrera, a Rice professor of mechanical engineering and materials science. They may find wide use first in applications where weight is a critical factor, such as airplanes and automobiles, and in the future could even replace traditional wiring in homes.

The cables developed in the study are spun from pristine nanotubes and can be tied together without losing their conductivity. To increase conductivity of the cables, the team doped them with iodine and the cables remained stable. The conductivity-to-weight ratio (called specific conductivity) beats metals, including copper and silver, and is second only to the metal with highest specific conductivity, sodium.

Yao Zhao built the demo rig that let him toggle power through the nanocable and replace conventional copper wire in the light-bulb circuit. Zhao left the bulb burning for days on end, with no sign of degradation in the nanotube cable. He's also reasonably sure the cable is mechanically robust; tests showed the nanocable to be just as strong and tough as metals it would replace, and it worked in a wide range of temperatures. Zhao also found that tying two pieces of the cable together did not hinder their ability to conduct electricity.

The few centimeters of cable demonstrated in the present study seems short, but spinning billions of nanotubes (supplied by research partner Tsinghua University) into a cable at all is quite a feat, Barrera said. The chemical processes used to grow and then align nanotubes will ultimately be part of a larger process that begins with raw materials and ends with a steady stream of nanocable, he said. The next stage would be to make longer, thicker cables that carry higher current while keeping the wire lightweight. "We really want to go better than what copper or other metals can offer overall," he said. Source: From [[Nanocables light way to the future|http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=16123&SnID=857839210]]. Rice researchers power line-voltage light bulb with nanotube wire. This work was detailed in the paper [["Iodine doped carbon nanotube cables exceeding specific electrical conductivity of metals”|http://www.nature.com/srep/2011/110906/srep00083/full/srep00083.html]] <<slider chkSldr [[Iodine doped carbon nanotube cables exceeding specific electrical conductivity of metals]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>

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The [[Stanford Nanoelectronics Lab|http://nano.stanford.edu/]] presents an 8-minute educational short, funded by the National Science Foundation, on Nanotechnology and Carbon Nanotubes.  The video content is completely student-created, from directing, casting, to even animation, with some technical assistance from Silicon Run Productions.

The Stanford Nanoelectronics Group was founded in September 2004 by [[H.-S. Philip Wong|http://www.stanford.edu/~hspwong/]]. The group's research interests are in nanoscale science and technology, semiconductor technology, solid state devices, and electronic imaging. The group is interested in exploring new materials, novel fabrication techniques, and novel device concepts for future nanoelectronic systems. These devices often require new concepts in circuit and system designs. The group's research also includes explorations into circuits and systems that are device-driven.

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Scientists has shown for the first time that carbon nanotubes can be broken down by an enzyme - myeloperoxidase (MPO) - found in white blood cells. ''Their discoveries contradict what was previously believed, that carbon nanotubes are not broken down in the body or in nature''. The scientists hope that this new understanding of how MPO converts carbon nanotubes into water and carbon dioxide can be of significance to medicine.

"Previous studies have shown that carbon nanotubes could be used for introducing drugs or other substances into human cells," says Bengt Fadeel, associate professor at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet. ''"The problem has been not knowing how to control the breakdown of the nanotubes, which can caused unwanted toxicity and tissue damage. Our study now shows how they can be broken down biologically into harmless components."''

Carbon nanotubes are a material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms rolled into a tube with a diameter of only a couple of nanometres (1 nanometer = 1 billionth of a metre) and a length that can range from tens of nanometres up to several micrometers. Carbon nanotubes are lighter and stronger than steel, and have exceptional heat-conductive and electrical properties. They are manufactured on an industrial scale, mainly for engineering purposes but also for some consumer products.

Carbon nanotubes were once considered biopersistent in that they did not break down in body tissue or in nature. In recent years, research has shown that laboratory animals exposed to carbon nanotubes via inhalation or through injection into the abdominal cavity develop severe inflammation. This and the tissue changes (fibrosis) that exposure causes lead to impaired lung function and perhaps even to cancer. For example, a year or two ago, alarming reports by other scientists suggested that carbon nanotubes are very similar to asbestos fibres, which are themselves biopersistent and which can cause lung cancer (mesothelioma) in humans a considerable time after exposure.

This current study thus represents a breakthrough in nanotechnology and nanotoxicology, since it clearly shows that endogenous MPO can break down carbon nanotubes. This enzyme is expressed in certain types of white blood cell (neutrophils), which use it to neutralise harmful bacteria. Now, however, the researchers have found that the enzyme also works on carbon nanotubes, breaking them down into water and carbon dioxide. The researchers also showed that carbon nanotubes that have been broken down by MPO no longer give rise to inflammation in mice.

"This means that there might be a way to render carbon nanotubes harmless, for example in the event of an accident at a production plant," says Dr Fadeel. "But the findings are also relevant to the future use of carbon nanotubes for medical purposes."

The work was conducted as part of the [[NANOMMUNE project|http://www.nanommune.eu/]], which is coordinated by associate professor [[Bengt Fadeel|http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=24857&a=20446&l=en]] of the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, and which comprises a total of thirteen research groups in Europe and the USA.

Source: [[New study on carbon nanotubes gives hope for medical applications|http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2637&a=98408&l=en&newsdep=2637]]. This work is detailed in the paper ''[[Carbon nanotubes degraded by neutrophil myeloperoxidase induce less pulmonary inflammation|http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nnano.2010.44.html]]'' by Valerian E. Kagan, Nagarjun V. Konduru, Weihong Feng, Brett L. Allen, Jennifer Conroy, Yuri Volkov, Irina I. Vlasova, Natalia A. Belikova, Naveena Yanamala, Alexander Kapralov, Yulia Y. Tyurina, Jingwen Shi, Elena R. Kisin, Ashley R. Murray, Jonathan Franks, Donna Stolz, Pingping Gou, Judith Klein-Seetharaman, Bengt Fadeel, Alexander Star, Anna Shvedova

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Research done by scientists in Italy and Switzerland has shown that ''carbon nanotubes may be the ideal “smart” brain material''. Their results are a promising step forward in the search to find ways to “bypass” faulty brain wiring.

The research shows that ''carbon nanotubes, which, like neurons, are highly electrically conductive, form extremely tight contacts with neuronal cell membranes''. Unlike the metal electrodes that are currently used in research and clinical applications, the nanotubes can create shortcuts between the distal and proximal compartments of the neuron, resulting in enhanced neuronal excitability.

The study was conducted in the [[Laboratory of Neural Microcircuitry|http://bmi.epfl.ch/page61216.html]] at EPFL in Switzerland and led by [[Michel Giugliano|http://www.giugliano.info/pro/]] (now an assistant professor at the University of Antwerp) and University of Trieste professor [[Laura Ballerini|http://www.neuronano.net/PeopleData.aspx?Action=Data&IdPartner=1&IdPeople=1]]. ''“This result is extremely relevant for the emerging field of neuro-engineering and neuroprosthetics,”'' explains Giugliano, who hypothesizes that the nanotubes could be used as a new building block of novel “electrical bypass” systems for treating traumatic injury of the central nervous system. Carbon nano-electrodes could also be used to replace metal parts in clinical applications such as deep brain stimulation for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease or severe depression. And they show promise as a whole new class of “smart” materials for use in a wide range of potential neuroprosthetic applications.

[[Henry Markram|http://people.epfl.ch/henry.markram]], head of the Laboratory of Neural Microcircuitry and an author on the paper, adds: “There are three fundamental obstacles to developing reliable neuroprosthetics: 1) stable interfacing of electromechanical devices with neural tissue, 2) understanding how to stimulate the neural tissue, and 3) understanding what signals to record from the neurons in order for the device to make an automatic and appropriate decision to stimulate. The new carbon nanotube-based interface technology discovered together with state of the art simulations of brain-machine interfaces is the key to developing all types of neuroprosthetics -- sight, sound, smell, motion, vetoing epileptic attacks, spinal bypasses, as well as repairing and even enhancing cognitive functions.”

Source: [[New “smart” materials for the brain|http://actualites.epfl.ch/presseinfo-com?id=693]]. This work is detailed in the paper [[Carbon nanotubes might improve neuronal performance by favouring electrical shortcuts|http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nnano.2008.374.html]] by Giada Cellot, Emanuele Cilia, Sara Cipollone, Vladimir Rancic, Antonella Sucapane, Silvia Giordani, Luca Gambazzi, Henry Markram, Micaela Grandolfo, Denis Scaini, Fabrizio Gelain, Loredana Casalis, Maurizio Prato, Michele Giugliano and Laura Ballerini

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Xinghua Shi, Annette von dem Bussche, Robert H. Hurt, Agnes B. Kane & Huajian Gao. 2011. ''Nature nanotechnology. doi:10.1038/nnano.2011.151''

//Materials with high aspect ratio, such as carbon nanotubes and asbestos fibres, have been shown to cause length-dependent toxicity in certain cells because these long materials prevent complete ingestion and this frustrates the cell. Biophysical models have been proposed to explain how spheres and elliptical nanostructures enter cells but one-dimensional nanomaterials have not been examined. Here, we show experimentally and theoretically that cylindrical one-dimensional nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes enter cells through the tip first. For nanotubes with end caps or carbon shells at their tips, uptake involves tip recognition through receptor binding, rotation that is driven by asymmetric elastic strain at the tube–bilayer interface, and near-vertical entry. The precise angle of entry is governed by the relative timescales for tube rotation and receptor diffusion. Nanotubes without caps or shells on their tips show a different mode of membrane interaction, posing an interesting question as to whether modifying the tips of tubes may help avoid frustrated uptake by cells.//

Weian Zhao, Sebastian Schafer, Jonghoon Choi, Yvonne J. Yamanaka, Maria L. Lombardi, Suman Bose, Alicia L. Carlson, Joseph A. Phillips, Weisuong Teo, Ilia A. Droujinine, Cheryl H. Cui, Rakesh K. Jain, Jan Lammerding, J. Christopher Love, Charles P. Lin, Debanjan Sarkar, Rohit Karnik & Jeffrey M. Karp. 2011. ''Nature Nanotechnology doi:10.1038/nnano.2011.101''

//The ability to explore cell signalling and cell-to-cell communication is essential for understanding cell biology and developing effective therapeutics. However, it is not yet possible to monitor the interaction of cells with their environments in real time. Here, we show that a fluorescent sensor attached to a cell membrane can detect signalling molecules in the cellular environment. The sensor is an aptamer (a short length of single-stranded DNA) that binds to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and contains a pair of fluorescent dyes. When bound to PDGF, the aptamer changes conformation and the dyes come closer to each other, producing a signal. The sensor, which is covalently attached to the membranes of mesenchymal stem cells, can quantitatively detect with high spatial and temporal resolution PDGF that is added in cell culture medium or secreted by neighbouring cells. The engineered stem cells retain their ability to find their way to the bone marrow and can be monitored in vivo at the single-cell level using intravital microscopy.//

<br>//Nanoparticles are finding utility in myriad biotechnological applications, including gene regulation, intracellular imaging, and medical diagnostics. Thus, evaluating the biocompatibility of these nanomaterials is imperative. Here we use genome-wide expression profiling to study the biological response of HeLa cells to gold nanoparticles functionalized with nucleic acids. Our study finds that the biological response to gold nanoparticles stabilized by weakly bound surface ligands is significant (cells recognize and react to the presence of the particles), yet when these same nanoparticles are stably functionalized with covalently attached nucleic acids, the cell shows no measurable response. This finding is important for researchers studying and using nanomaterials in biological settings, as it demonstrates how slight changes in surface chemistry and particle stability can lead to significant differences in cellular responses.//

{{twocolumns{
If you've ever eaten from silverware or worn copper jewelry, you've been in a perfect storm in which nanoparticles were dropped into the environment, say scientists at the University of Oregon. Since the emergence of nanotechnology, researchers, regulators and the public have been concerned that the potential toxicity of nano-sized products might threaten human health by way of environmental exposure.

Now, with the help of high-powered transmission electron microscopes, chemists captured never-before-seen views of miniscule metal nanoparticles naturally being created by silver articles such as wire, jewelry and eating utensils in contact with other surfaces. It turns out, researchers say, nanoparticles have been in contact with humans for a long, long time.

The project involved researchers in the [[UO's Materials Science Institute|http://pages.uoregon.edu/msiuo/]] and the [[Safer Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing Initiative (SNNI)|http://www.greennano.org/]], in collaboration with UO technology spinoff [[Dune Sciences Inc|http://www.dunesciences.com/]]. SNNI is an initiative of the [[Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI)|http://onami.us/]], a state signature research center.

The research focused on understanding the dynamic behavior of silver nanoparticles on surfaces when exposed to a variety of environmental conditions. 

Using a new approach developed at UO that allows for the ''direct observation of microscopic changes in nanoparticles over time'', researchers found that silver nanoparticles deposited on the surface of their SMART Grids electron microscope slides began to transform in size, shape and particle populations within a few hours, especially when exposed to humid air, water and light.  Similar dynamic behavior and new nanoparticle formation was observed when the study was extended to look at macro-sized silver objects such as wire or jewelry.

''"Our findings show that nanoparticle 'size' may not be static, especially when particles are on surfaces. For this reason, we believe that environmental health and safety concerns should not be defined -- or regulated -- based upon size,"'' said [[James E. Hutchison|http://chemistry.uoregon.edu/fac.html?hutchison]]. "In addition, the generation of nanoparticles from objects that humans have contacted for millennia suggests that humans have been exposed to these nanoparticles throughout time. Rather than raise concern, I think this suggests that we would have already linked exposure to these materials to health hazards if there were any."

Any potential federal regulatory policies, the research team concluded, should allow for the presence of background levels of nanoparticles and their dynamic behavior in the environment.

Because copper behaved similarly, the researchers theorize that their findings represent a general phenomenon for metals readily oxidized and reduced under certain environmental conditions. "These findings," they wrote, "challenge conventional thinking about nanoparticle reactivity and imply that the production of new nanoparticles is an intrinsic property of the material that is now strongly size dependent."

While not addressed directly, Hutchison said, the naturally occurring and spontaneous activity seen in the research suggests that exposure to toxic metal ions, for example, might not be reduced simply by using larger particles in the presence of living tissue or organisms. Source: From ''[[Nanoparticles and their size may not be big issues|http://uonews.uoregon.edu/archive/news-release/2011/10/nanoparticles-and-their-size-may-not-be-big-issues]]''. This work was detailed in the paper [["Generation of Metal Nanoparticles from Silver and Copper Objects: Nanoparticle Dynamics on Surfaces and Potential Sources of Nanoparticles in the Environment”|http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nn2031319]]

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Catalysts made of carbon nanotubes dipped in a polymer solution equal the energy output and otherwise outperform platinum catalysts in fuel cells, a team of Case Western Reserve University engineers has found. The researchers are certain that they'll be able to boost the power output and maintain the other advantages by matching the best nanotube layout and type of polymer. But already they've proved the simple technique can knock down one of the major roadblocks to fuel cell use: cost.

''Platinum, which represents at least a quarter of the cost of fuel cells, currently sells for about $65,000 per kilogram. These researchers say their activated carbon nanotubes cost about $100 per kilogram.''

"This is a breakthrough," said Liming Dai, a professor of chemical engineering and the research team leader. Dai and research associates Shuangyin Wang and Dingshan Yu found that by simply soaking carbon nanotubes in a water solution of the polymer polydiallyldimethylammoniumn chloride for a couple of hours, the polymer coats the nanotube surface and pulls an electron partially from the carbon, creating a net positive charge.

They placed the nanotubes on the cathode of an alkaline fuel cell. There, the charged material acts as a catalyst for the oxygen-reduction reaction that produces electricity while electrochemically combining hydrogen and oxygen.

In testing, the fuel cell produced as much power as an identical cell using a platinum catalyst. But the activated nanotubes last longer and are more stable, the researchers said. Unlike platinum, the carbon-based catalyst: doesn't lose catalytic activity and, therefore, efficiency, over time; isn't fouled by carbon monooxide poising; and is free from the crossover effect with methanol. Methanol, a liquid fuel that's easier to store and transport than hydrogen, reduces activity of a platinum catalyst when the fuel crosses over from the anode to the cathode in a fuel cell.

The new process builds on the Dai lab's earlier work using nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes as a catalyst. In that process, nitrogen, which was chemically bonded to the carbon, pulled electron partially from the carbon to create a charge. Testing showed the doped tubes tripled the energy output of platinum.

Dai said the new process is far simpler and cheaper than using nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes and he's confident his lab will increase the energy output as well. "We have not optimized the system yet." Source: From [[Cheap fuel cell catalyst made easy|http://blog.case.edu/think/2011/03/22/cheap_fuel_cell_catalyst_made_easy]]. CWRU researchers aim to cut cost of alternative energy. This work is detailed in the paper [[Polyelectrolyte Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes as Efficient Metal-free Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction|http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/ja1112904]] <<slider chkSldr [[Polyelectrolyte Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes as Efficient Metal-free Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>

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In miniaturization, mimicking the sense of smell has been a major target. The Smell is composed of thousands integrated specific receptors, in fact, the Smell occupais about a thousand of gens and such a huge analyzing library has to be schrinked to fit in a body. With nanotehcnology success is closer. Already, using carbon nanotubes these principles have been tested and verified. Now, changing the material, using gold nanoparticles.

"A highly sensitive and fast-response array of sensors based on gold nanoparticles, in combination with pattern recognition methods, can [[distinguish|http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/id12382.jpg]] between the odor prints of non-small-cell lung cancer and negative controls with 100% accuracy, with no need for preconcentration techniques. Additionally, preliminary results indicate that the same array of sensors might serve as a better tool for understanding the biochemical source of volatile organic compounds that might occur in cancer cells and appear in the exhaled breath, as compared to traditional spectrometry techniques. The reported results provide a launching pad to initiate a bedside tool that might be able to screen for early stages of lung cancer and allow higher cure rates. In addition, such a tool might be used for the immediate diagnosis of fresh (frozen) tissues of lung cancer in operating rooms, where a dichotomic diagnosis is crucial to guide surgeons." From ''[[Sniffing the Unique Odor Print of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with Gold Nanoparticles|http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122574194/abstract]]'' by [[Orna Barash|http://lnbd.technion.ac.il/NanoChemistry/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DBID=1&TMID=139&LNGID=1&FID=502&PID=0&IID=1018]], [[Nir Peled|http://fulbright.state.gov/fulbright/regionscountries/whereare/middle-east-and-north-africa/israel/highlights/peled-story]], [[Fred R. Hirsch|http://www.uchsc.edu/sm/deptmed/oncology/faculty/hirsch.htm]], [[Hossam Haick|http://lnbd.technion.ac.il/NanoChemistry/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DBID=1&TMID=139&LNGID=1&FID=502&PID=0&IID=741]]. 

"Conventional diagnostic methods for lung cancer are unsuitable for widespread screening because they are expensive and occasionally miss tumours. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry studies have shown that several volatile organic compounds, which normally appear at levels of 1–20 ppb in healthy human breath, are elevated to levels between 10 and 100 ppb in lung cancer patients. Here we show that an array of sensors based on gold nanoparticles can rapidly distinguish the breath of lung cancer patients from the breath of healthy individuals in an atmosphere of high humidity. In combination with solid-phase microextraction, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to identify 42 volatile organic compounds that represent lung cancer biomarkers. Four of these were used to train and optimize the sensors, demonstrating good agreement between patient and simulated breath samples. Our results show that sensors based on gold nanoparticles could form the basis of an inexpensive and non-invasive diagnostic tool for lung cancer." From ''[[Diagnosing lung cancer in exhaled breath using gold nanoparticles|http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nnano.2009.235.html]]'' by Gang Peng, Ulrike Tisch, Orna Adams, Meggie Hakim, Nisrean Shehada, Yoav Y. Broza, Salem Billan, Roxolyana ~Abdah-Bortnyak, Abraham Kuten & Hossam Haick

''[[Related quotas|http://topics.treehugger.com/article/0ee9gT53XH1nJ/quotes?q=]]''. Background: [[Diagnosis through breath]]

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"The device I’m building will be significantly cheaper than the $15k a student level machine would cost, and will hopefully reach that range of performance.  I’m certainly not expecting to build a device that can have the accuracy to do real research for only a few hundred dollars, but I’m hopeful that we can achieve modest results.

Right now, I’m basing the design on the work of [[John Alexander|http://www.geocities.com/spm_stm/]], but [[we|http://www.chemhacker.com/about/]] (my electrical engineering and software gurus and I) will be extending and improving this design for microprocessor control and trace capture.  I’m also contacting some of the recent builders of this class of device to hear their opinions and advice. I really am standing on the shoulders of giants here, and by basing my work on that of a lot of (very) brilliant people, I hope to be able to achieve success.

My intention is to release all hardware designs as open source once the device reaches a fairly stable beta stage of completion." Source: From ''[[Project Announcement: Design/Build of an STM|http://www.chemhacker.com/2010/03/project-announcement-designbuild-of-an-stm/#more-131]]''

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<br>Choi W, Hong S, Abrahamson J, Han J, Song C, Nair N, Baik S & Strano M S.. 2011. ''Nature Materials doi:10.1038/nmat2714''

//Theoretical calculations predict that by coupling an exothermic chemical reaction with a nanotube or nanowire possessing a high axial thermal conductivity, a self-propagating reactive wave can be driven along its length. Herein, such waves are realized using a 7-nm cyclotrimethylene trinitramine annular shell around a multiwalled carbon nanotube and are amplified by more than 104 times the bulk value, propagating faster than 2 m s−1, with an effective thermal conductivity of 1.28±0.2 kW m−1 K−1 at 2,860 K. This wave produces a concomitant electrical pulse of disproportionately high specific power, as large as 7 kW kg−1, which we identify as a thermopower wave. Thermally excited carriers flow in the direction of the propagating reaction with a specific power that scales inversely with system size. The reaction also evolves an anisotropic pressure wave of high total impulse per mass (300 N s kg−1). Such waves of high power density may find uses as unique energy sources.//

{{twocolumns{
<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px" src="img/molecular_flask.jpg" title="A scanning electron microscope image shows a new material that self-assembles into a polyhedron using the attractive interactions associated with hydrogen bonds. The shapes then further organize into a crystal lattice that resembles a porous structure called zeolite, an absorbent material with many industrial uses. Credit: Michael D. Ward, New York University" class="photo"  width="50%"/></html>Chemists have created a molecular polyhedron, a ground-breaking assembly that has the potential to impact a range of industrial and consumer products, including magnetic and optical materials.

Researchers have sought to coerce molecules to form regular polyhedra—three-dimensional objects in which each side, or face, is a polygon—but without sustained success. Archimedean solids, discovered by the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes, have attracted considerable attention in this regard. These 13 solids are those in which each face is a regular polygon and in which around every vertex—the corner at which its geometric shapes meet—the same polygons appear in the same sequences. For instance, in a truncated tetrahedron, the pattern forming at every vertex is hexagon-hexagon-triangle. The synthesis of such structures from molecules is an intellectual challenge.

The work by the NYU and University of Milan chemists ''forms a quasi-truncated octahedron, which also constitutes one of the 13 Archimedean solids. Moreover, as a polyhedron, the structure has the potential to serve as a cage-like framework to trap other molecular species'', which can jointly serve as building blocks for new and enhanced materials.

“We’ve demonstrated how to coerce molecules to assemble into a polyhedron by design,” explained [[Michael Ward|http://www.nyu.edu/fas/dept/chemistry/wardgroup/]], chair of NYU’s Department of Chemistry and one of the study’s co-authors. “The next step will be to expand on the work by making other polyhedra using similar design principles, which can lead to new materials with unusual properties.”

Because the structure also serves as a molecular cage, it can house, or encapsulate, other molecular components, giving future chemists a vehicle for developing a range of new compounds. Source: [[Chemists Create Molecular Polyhedron - and Potential to Enhance Industrial and Consumer Products|http://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2011/07/21/chemists-create-molecular-polyhedronand-potential-to-enhance-industrial-and-consumer-products.html]]. This work was detailed in the paper ''[[Supramolecular Archimedean Cages Assembled with 72 Hydrogen Bonds|http://www.sciencemag.org/content/333/6041/436.abstract]]''<<slider chkSldr [[Supramolecular Archimedean Cages Assembled with 72 Hydrogen Bonds]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>


The extraordinary aspect of this work, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is the self-assembly of the molecular tiles into a polyhedron, a well-defined, three-dimensional, geometric solid. The individual polyhedra assemble themselves using the attractive interactions associated with hydrogen bonds. They then further organize into a crystal lattice that resembles a porous structure called zeolite, an absorbent material with many industrial uses. The new material differs from zeolite because it is constructed from organic building blocks rather than inorganic ones, which make it more versatile and easier to engineer. In general, inorganic compounds are considered mineral in origin, while organic compounds are considered biological in origin.

"By using geometric design principles and very simple chemical precursors, the Ward group has been able to construct relatively sturdy materials which contain many identically sized and shaped cavities," explained Michael Scott, program director in the Division of Materials Research at NSF. ''"The hollow space inside these materials offers many exciting opportunities for chemists to do things such as isolate unstable molecules, catalyze unknown reactions and separate important chemical compounds."'' Source: [[Chemists Create Molecular "Flasks"|http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=121087&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click]]. Researchers design a self-assembling material that can house other molecules

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<br>Timothy Sanchez, David Welch, Daniela Nicastro, Zvonimir Dogic. 2011. ''Science doi:10.1126/science.1203963''

//The mechanism that drives the regular beating of individual cilia and flagella, as well as dense ciliary fields, remains unclear. We describe a minimal model system, composed of microtubules and molecular motors, which self-assemble into active bundles exhibiting beating patterns reminiscent of those found in eukaryotic cilia and flagella. These observations suggest that hundreds of molecular motors, acting within an elastic microtubule bundle, spontaneously synchronize their activity to generate large-scale oscillations. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that densely packed, actively bending bundles spontaneously synchronize their beating patterns to produce collective behavior similar to metachronal waves observed in ciliary fields. The simple in vitro system described here could provide insights into beating of isolated eukaryotic cilia and flagella, as well as their synchronization in dense ciliary fields.  //

Antineoplastic effects of <html><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisplatin" rel="tag">Cisplatin</a></html>, a paradigm of serendipity, were discovered when applying electric fields to C.Elegans. In that case, the Pt(II) cations released from the electrodes interferred with cellular duplication and the C.Elegans growed to gigantic sizes. First was thought that the applied electrical induced organism growth however later on was found that <html><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/mesh/2006/MB_cgi?mode=&term=Cisplatin" rel="tag">Cisplatin</a></html> irreversibly attaches to the N residues of the DNA impeding cell reproduction. Since then it has been one of the most used antitumoral drugs and still today is widely used in the treatment of the most prevalent tumours. In addition, <html><a href="http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=84691" rel="tag">Cisplatin</a></html> derivates as carboplatin or oxiplatin has show also benefitial therapeutic effects, indicating that modifications of cisplatin may be of medical interest. Therefore many compunts based on Pt(II) has been produced showing biological activity, however, few of them have shown medical relevance. The loose of activity in the body can be associated with deactivation of the Pt(II) cation by sulfure containing molecules (cisteines) or by a unproper biodistribution of the drug, and others. In a recent paper, Lippard and co-workers have try to overcome this complications by conjugating platine(IV) compounds to carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes should act as Longboat Delivery Systems for Platium (IV). Such nanocomposites are internalized by endocitosis into a endosome where its low pH reduces Platium (IV) to Platinum (II) delivering a large amount of cisplatin(II) to the cell increasing efficiently its killer effects. In addition, circulating Platinum (IV) compounds are non toxic (it is the valence II compound the toxic one). Now it has to be observed the compund biodistribution and side effects since generally platinum chemotherapies are interrupted due to size effects of nefro toxicity or renal toxicity.

Feazell et al. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2007, 129,8438-8439

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''A citizen-based, and collaborative website on societal issues raised by nanotechnology research and developments!'' The Citizen Alliance on the ChallEnges of Nanotechnologies (CACEN) (in French “Alliance Citoyenne sur les Enjeux des Nanotechnologies”: ACEN) has just opened a new website [[nano.acen-cacen.org|http://nano.acen-cacen.org]] where citizens can find and share information, questions, and analyses about societal issues raised by nanotechnologies.
 
Information on challenges raised by nanotechnologies. Private investments and public funding for nanotechnologies have been dramatically increasing in the last decade, giving rise to the presence of nanomaterials in many products on the market. Meanwhile uncertainties and controversies have arisen about the definition, the usefulness, the purposes, and the risks of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials. Many stakeholders and citizens have therefore been asking for more information on societal issues raised by nanotechnologies. In response to this need, we have created this website to:

    * share information with all of you who are frustrated by the low visibility of current debates, discussions and lack of accessible information on these topics .
    * develop perspectives and analyses of challenges raised by nanotechnology, be they health, environment, economical and geopolitical, ethical or democratic ones.

All of this information will be presented in a clear and understandable way.

A global and pluralistic approach. This website will be a place where we will gather questions and concerns about nanotechnologies that citizens and civil society want to raise, and collectively debate and resolve, even while some continue to argue that no regulation or control are possible -- because of lack of data (often protected by industry trade secrets) and/or scientific debates about definitions of “nanoparticle” and ”nanomaterial,” and scientific uncertainties on how to assess their toxicity, and how to adequately detect and monitor them. ''The website offers a global approach on nanotechnologies, presenting the context in which they are developed, funded, and regulated (or not), by whom, and where. It will open up the “black box” where decisions are being made, to empower civil society by offering resources on current and forthcoming actions, consultations and decision making processes''.

Overall, the pluralistic approach of this website makes it unique and original: people involved in a range of environmental, health, and human rights NGOs are [[contributing|http://nano.acen-cacen.org/ActeursACEN]].

We would like this website to be accessible not only to French speakers but also English, Spanish, Portuguese people. We would very much appreciate financial or technical support to help us complete, update, and translate this website! If you have human, financial, or technical resources that could help us, please let us know! More information: http://nano.acen-cacen.org and contact[at]acen-cacen[dot]org. Source: [[AceNano: Communique Presse Lancement Site EN|http://nano.acen-cacen.org/CommuniquePresseLancementSiteEN]]

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[<img[individual carbon atoms (yellow) on the honeycomb lattice of graphene|http://newscenter.lbl.gov/wp-content/uploads/team-05-graphene-214x300.jpg]] Hailed as the world’s most powerful [[transmission electron microscope|http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Nanotechnology/Electron_microscopy#Transmission_electron_microscopy_.28TEM.29]], TEAM 0.5 is living up to expectations. Using TEAM 0.5 ([[TEAM|http://ncem.lbl.gov/TEAM-project/index.html]] stands for Transmission Electron Aberration-corrected Microscope), researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have produced stunning images of individual carbon atoms in graphene, the two-dimensional crystalline form of carbon that is highly prized by the electronics industry.

These first time ever images were recorded at Berkeley Lab’s National Center for Electron Microscopy ([[NCEM|http://ncem.lbl.gov/]]), a DOE national user facility that is a premier center for electron microscopy and microcharacterization. TEAM 0.5, its newest instrument, is capable of //producing images with half‑angstrom resolution, which is less than the diameter of a single hydrogen atom//.

“Simply put, //TEAM 0.5 is the best transmission electron microscope in the world, representing a quantum leap forward in instrumentation//,” said physicist [[Alex Zettl|http://www.physics.berkeley.edu/research/zettl/]] who led this research. “''Having the ability to see, basically in real time, each and every individual atom in a sample'' is unbelievably useful and the images we can now see have been jaw-dropping for even the most seasoned electron microscopists. TEAM 0.5 is pushing transmission electron microscopy to a new level.”

“Theorists are currently making all kinds of predictions about the properties of [[graphene|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphene]] for different local atomic configurations, but until TEAM 0.5, we did not have the ability to actually see and study these configurations in real time,” Zettl said.

Says NCEM principal investigator and collaborator on this study Kisielowski, “TEAM 0.5 allows for the detection of every single atom from the Periodic Table provided that the sample under investigation can stand the radiation damage (TEAM 0.5’s record-setting half-angstrom resolution was achieved with an electron beam that was 300 kilovolts (kV) in energy.)

Source: [[Closest Look Ever at Graphene: Stunning Images of Individual Carbon Atoms From TEAM 0.5 microscope|http://newscenter.lbl.gov/press-releases/2008/09/09/closest-look-ever-at-graphene-stunning-images-of-individual-carbon-atoms-from-team-05-microscope/]]. The paper, published in Nanoletters, is [[Direct imaging of lattice atoms and topological defects in graphene membranes|http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/asap.cgi/nalefd/asap/pdf/nl801386m.pdf]]

''Professor [[Andre Geim|http://onnes.ph.man.ac.uk/nano/]]  and Dr [[Kostya Noveselov|http://onnes.ph.man.ac.uk/nano/People.html]] have been awarded the prestigious [[Europhysics Prize 2008|http://www.eps.org/news/eps-europhysics-prize-2008-1]] for discovering and isolating a single free-standing atomic layer of  carbon (graphene) and elucidating its remarkable electronic properties.''

{{twocolumns{
''Nanometrology is the science of measurement at the nanoscale (1 nm to 100 nm)''. It has a crucial role in the production of nanomaterials and the manufacturing of nanoscale devices with a high degree of accuracy and reliability. 

Co-Nanomet - A Co-ordination of nanometrology in Europe, has recently been published and is available to download.

<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px" src="img/co-nanomet.jpg" title="Co-Nanomet - A Co-ordination of nanometrology in Europe" class="photo"  width="100%"/></html>

''Measurements in the nanometre range should be traceable back to internationally accepted units of measurement'' (e.g. of length, angle, quantity of matter, and force). This requires common, validated measurement methods, calibrated scientific instrumentation as well as qualified reference samples. In some areas, even a common vocabulary needs to be defined.

The field of nanotechnology covers a breadth of disciplines, each of which has specific and varying metrological needs. To this end, a set of four core technology fields or priority themes (Engineered Nanoparticles, Nanobiotechnology, Thin Films and Structured Surfaces and Modelling & Simulation) are the focus of this review.

In the next decade, nanotechnology can be expected to approach maturity, as a major enabling technological discipline with widespread application. The principal drivers for its development are likely to shift from an overarching focus on the 'joy of discovery' towards the requirement to fulfil societal needs.

''This document provides a guide to the many bodies across Europe in their activities or responsibilities in the field of nanotechnology and related measurement requirements''. It will support the commercial exploitation of nanotechnology, as it transitions through this next exciting decade. Source: From the Executive Summary by Dr Theresa Burke, on behalf of the Co-Nanomet Consortium. ''[[Co-Nanomet. Co-ordination of Nanometrology in Europe|http://www.euspen.eu/content/Co-nanomet%20protected%20documents/publications%20area/European%20Nanometrology%202020%20280911.pdf]]''. European Nanometrology 2020

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{{twocolumns{
<html><img style="float:left; margin-right:10px" src="img/coiled_nanowire.jpg" title="Zhu's research team has created the first coils of silicon nanowire on a substrate that can be stretched to more than double their original length, moving us closer to developing stretchable electronic devices." class="photo"  width="50%"/></html> Researchers have created the ''first coils of silicon nanowire on a substrate that can be stretched to more than double their original length, moving us closer to incorporating stretchable electronic devices into clothing, implantable health-monitoring devices, and a host of other applications''.

“In order to create stretchable electronics, you need to put electronics on a stretchable substrate, but electronic materials themselves tend to be rigid and fragile,” says [[Dr. Yong Zhu|http://www.mae.ncsu.edu/zhu/]], one of the researchers who created the new nanowire coils and an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering  at North Carolina State University. “Our idea was to create electronic materials that can be tailored into coils to improve their stretchability without harming the electric functionality of the materials.”

Other researchers have experimented with “buckling” electronic materials into wavy shapes, which can stretch much like the bellows of an accordion. However, Zhu says, the maximum strains for wavy structures occur at localized positions – the peaks and valleys – on the waves. As soon as the failure strain is reached at one of the localized positions, the entire structure fails.

“An ideal shape to accommodate large deformation would lead to a uniform strain distribution along the entire length of the structure – a coil spring is one such ideal shape,” Zhu says. “As a result, the wavy materials cannot come close to the coils’ degree of stretchability.” Zhu notes that the coil shape is energetically favorable only for one-dimensional structures, such as wires.

Zhu’s team put a rubber substrate under strain and used very specific levels of ultraviolet radiation and ozone to change its mechanical properties, and then placed silicon nanowires on top of the substrate. The nanowires formed coils upon release of the strain. Other researchers have been able to create coils using freestanding nanowires, but have so far been unable to directly integrate those coils on a stretchable substrate.

While the new coils’ mechanical properties allow them to be stretched an additional 104 percent beyond their original length, their electric performance cannot hold reliably to such a large range, possibly due to factors like contact resistance change or electrode failure, Zhu says. “We are working to improve the reliability of the electrical performance when the coils are stretched to the limit of their mechanical stretchability, which is likely well beyond 100 percent, according to our analysis.” Source: [[Coiled nanowires may hold key to stretchable electronics|http://news.ncsu.edu/releases/wmszhunanocoils/]]. This work was detailed in the paper [[“Controlled 3D Buckling of Silicon Nanowires for Stretchable Electronics”|http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nn103189z]] by Feng Xu, Yong Zhu & Wei Lu <<slider chkSldr [[Controlled 3D Buckling of Silicon Nanowires for Stretchable Electronics]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>

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[[The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering|http://cnse.albany.edu/]]  of the University at Albany-State University of New York is ''the first college in the world dedicated to research, development, education, and deployment in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience, nanoengineering, nanobioscience, and nanoeconomics''.

2001: Established as the School of Nanosciences and Nanoengineering at the University at Albany
2004: Accredited as the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering of the University at Albany
December 2004: CNSE awards the world's first Ph.D. degrees in nanoscience. Source: [[About CNSE - History|http://cnse.albany.edu/about_cnse/history.html]]

College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering
University at Albany - State University of New York
255 Fuller Road
Albany, NY, United States of America
http://cnse.albany.edu/


''Related news:'' [[Creating a common research site: Albany NanoTech, Applied Materials, IBM Announce Research Partnership|http://www.albany.edu/news/releases/2005/sep2005/sweeney_nanotech.shtml]]. Firms invest $300 million in R&D initiative. "An important milestone in establishing the IBM-Albany NanoTech Center for Semiconductor Research as ''the nation's premier facility for the study of nanotechnology''."

<br>//Hi Josep

Thanks for the post

There are other references where we confirmed the evidence for interstellar C60+ and derived an estimate of C60+ abundance of 0.3-0.9 % of cosmic carbon.

 B. H. Foing, P. Ehrenfreund, Astron. Astrophys. 317, L59 (1997) (where we used dry observations from Hawaii and ESO to measure the bands)

G. A. Galazutdinov, J. Krelowski, F. A. Musaev, P. Ehrenfreund, B. H. Foing,
Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 317, 750 (2000).
where we observed in the lines of sight to 15 distant stars.

Note that we wrote an article in Science magazine recently on the subject "Fullerenes and Cosmic Carbon"

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/329/5996/1159?rss=1

Best regards,
Bernard H. Foing//

<br>//Dear Josep,

Thank you for featuring my recently published article on your website.  I just wanted to make a point of clarification though.  The nanoparticles that caused large-scale changes in gene expression were not functionalized with loosely bound nucleic acids, but rather they were stabilized by loosely (electrostatically) bound citrate molecules.

Thank you,
Matt//

{{twocolumns{
Teresa Gonzalo, 33, CEO in [[Ambiox Biotech|http://ambiox.com/]], awarded by MIT among the top ten spanish young innovators, as "commercial nanotechnology developer for the prevention of HIV."

Teresa has worked since 2007 at the Hospital Gregorio Marañón as a postdoctoral researcher in search of an AIDS therapy using nanotechnology-specific dendrimers (polymeric molecules versatile, three-dimensional shape defined) - for a microbicide gel may prevent HIV infection during the sexual encounter. The most promising microbicides are currently using gels containing antiretroviral drugs that have successfully reduced HIV incidence by 54% in women with greater adherence to treatment, the study shows CAPRISA in South Africa with a tenofovir-based gel. The goal is to improve data Teresa with the development of vaginal microbicides based on dendrimers, which either alone or in combination with drugs significantly reduce the infection of HIV target cells.

''"The use of nanoparticles and dendrimers for drug appears to improve vehicular protective immune response against HIV," ''says Antonio Antelo, physician, Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Clinico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela and former vice president of the Spanish Society Interdisciplinary of AIDS. "This makes this area a target of interest for the application of nanotechnology, where the work of Teresa is likely to make improvements and impact on the appearance of a drug with immediate applications in public health," said Antel. 

MIT, through the Spanish-language version of the Technology Review, awarded the most brilliant and innovative people under 35 with the MIT’s TR35 Spain Awards. The awards look for people that take on important technological problems in a transformative way. The winners have been selected through an exhaustive selection process with the help of recognized experts that have been assembled into a judging panel. With their rankings of the candidates and the advice of the [[MIT Technology Review|http://www.techonologyreview.com/]] editors in Boston, who have been organizing the event for 12 years in the United States, the TR35 Spain winners represent an overview of how technology is changing.

Source: From [[MIT’s TR35 Spain Awards|http://www.emtechspain.com/en/emerging-talent-awards-tr35/]].

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{{twocolumns{
A team of scientists have found that nanoparticles may have a higher degree of environmental toxicity than previously thought creating strategic implications for the planet and our ecosystem. The team from Dowling College, USA and Queens University, Canada ''discovered the ability of nanoparticles to deleteriously change the populations of microorganisms in the soil, potentially altering our globe’s environmental balance on a molecular level''.

“Millions of tonnes of nanoparticles are now manufactured every year, including silver nanoparticles which are popular as antibacterial agents,” says Virginia Walker, a professor in the Department of Biology. “We started to wonder what the impact of all these nanoparticles might be on the environment, particularly on soil.”

The team acquired a sample of soil from the Arctic as part of their involvement in the International Polar Year initiative. The soil was sourced from a remote Arctic site as they felt that this soil stood the greatest chance of being uncontaminated by any nanoparticles.

“Microorganisms play a major role in keeping our environment in a balanced state and the results of our study shows that nanoparticles could be toxic to these important populations of microbes found in soil,” says Dr. Vishal Shah, an associate professor in the Department of Biology at Dowling College.  “Absence of a common measurable indicator of environmental toxicity has been one of the hurdles preventing us thus far from quantitatively comparing the toxicity of different nanoparticles. ''Once we developed a toxicity indicator in the study thanks to our use of arctic soil, it was clear that even nanoparticles made from relatively benign silicon dioxide (found in sand) are toxic to populations of microorganisms in soil.”''

The researchers first examined the indigenous microbe communities living in the uncontaminated soil samples before adding three different kinds of nanoparticles, including silver. The soil samples were then left for six months to see how the addition of the nanoparticles affected the microbe communities. What the researchers found was both remarkable and concerning.

The original analysis of the uncontaminated soil had identified a beneficial microbe that helps fix nitrogen to plants. As plants are unable to fix nitrogen themselves and nitrogen fixation is essential for plant nutrition, the presence of these particular microbes in soil is vital for plant growth. The analysis of the soil sample six months after the addition of the silver nanoparticles showed negligible quantities of the important nitrogen-fixing species remaining and laboratory experiments showed that they were more than a million times susceptible to silver nanoparticles than other species. Source: From [[Common nanoparticles found to be highly toxic to Arctic ecosystem|http://www.queensu.ca/news/articles/common-nanoparticles-found-be-highly-toxic-arctic-ecosystem]] and Dowling College Researcher Finds that Nanoparticles Pose Danger to Arctic Ecosystem. Dowling College, USA & Queens University, Canada Investigate Environmental Consequences. This work is detailed in the paper [[Perturbation of an arctic soil microbial community by metal nanoparticles|http://bit.ly/imgoxL]] <<slider chkSldr [[Perturbation of an arctic soil microbial community by metal nanoparticles]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>

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''<<matchTags popup sort:-created context>>'' <<matchTags popup sort:-created dissemination>> ''Communicating Nanotechnology''

//The European Commission has been very quick to understand just how hot nanotechnology communication is. This sharp awareness has been matched by the strong interest and real concern of EU institutions, and has steadily produced a growing range of socially engaged policy documents and dedicated projects over the past few years. Engaging a public that might have been inadequately informed so far, or perhaps outright misled because of the very complexity of the issue, is the core challenge. In these policy documents the EC observed that ‘nanotechnology is poorly understood. Since it is complex and concerns a scale that is invisible, nanotechnology may be a difficult concept for the public to grasp. While the potential applications of nanotechnology can improve our quality of life, there may be some risk associated with it, as with any new technology – this should be openly acknowledged and investigated. At the same time the public’s perception of nanotechnology and its risks should be properly assessed and addressed’. Involving Europeans in appropriate communication and dialogue is a real asset to the EC, whose aim is to align nanotechnology development with the people’s expectations and concerns, and at the same time to pave the way for a level playing field in the global market. Clearly, ‘the public trust and dialogue on nanotechnology will be crucial for its long-term development and allow us to profit from its potential benefits. It is evident that the scientific community will have to improve its communication skills.’//  From ''[[Communicating Nanotechnology. Why, to whom, saying what and how?|ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/nanotechnology/docs/communicating-nanotechnology_en.pdf]]'', preface by Christos Tokamanis

<br>//Multicolored imaging: A new class of molecular imaging agent has been developed based on low-molecular-weight organically soluble bismuth to detect and quantify intraluminal fibrin presented by ruptured plaque in the context of computed tomography angiograms without calcium interference.//

<br>//Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are a phylogenetically diverse group which uses intracellular membrane-enclosed magnetite crystals called magnetosomes for navigation in their aquatic habitats. Although synthesis of these prokaryotic organelles is of broad interdisciplinary interest, its genetic analysis has been restricted to a few closely related members of the Proteobacteria, in which essential functions required for magnetosome formation are encoded within a large genomic magnetosome island. However, because of the lack of cultivated representatives from other phyla, it is unknown whether the evolutionary origin of magnetotaxis is monophyletic, and it has been questioned whether homologous mechanisms and structures are present in unrelated MTB. Here, we present the analysis of the uncultivated “Candidatus Magnetobacterium bavaricum” from the deep branching Nitrospira phylum by combining micromanipulation and whole genome amplification (WGA) with metagenomics. Target-specific sequences obtained by WGA of cells, which were magnetically collected and individually sorted from sediment samples, were used for PCR screening of metagenomic libraries. This led to the identification of a genomic cluster containing several putative magnetosome genes with homology to those in Proteobacteria. A variety of advanced electron microscopic imaging tools revealed a complex cell envelope and an intricate magnetosome architecture. The presence of magnetosome membranes as well as cytoskeletal magnetosome filaments suggests a similar mechanism of magnetosome formation in “Cand. M. bavaricum” as in Proteobacteria. Altogether, our findings suggest a monophyletic origin of magnetotaxis, and relevant genes were likely transferred horizontally between Proteobacteria and representatives of the Nitrospira phylum.//

While industrial sectors involving semiconductors, memory and storage technologies, display, optical and photonic technologies, energy, biomedical, and health sectors produce the most nanomaterial-containing products, nanotechnology is also used as an environmental technology to protect the environment through pollution prevention, treatment, and cleanup. This paper focuses on environmental cleanup and provides readers with a background and overview of current practice, research findings, societal issues, potential environment, health, and safety implications, and future directions for nanoremediation. We do not present an exhaustive review of chemistry/engineering methods of the technology but rather an introduction and summary of the application of nanotechnology in remediation. Nanoscale zero valent iron is discussed in more detail. We searched Web of Science for research studies and accessed recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other publicly available reports that addressed the applications and implications associated with nanoremediation techniques. We also conducted personal interviews with practitioners about specific site remediations. Information from 45 sites, a representative portion of the total projects underway, was aggregated to show nanomaterials used, type of pollutants cleaned up, and organization responsible for the site.

''Nanoremediation has the potential not only to reduce the overall costs of cleaning up large scale contaminated sites, but it also can reduce cleanup time, eliminate the need for treatment and disposal of contaminated soil, reduce some contaminant concentrations to near zero—all in situ''. Proper evaluation of nanoremediation, particularly full-scale ecosystem wide studies, needs to be conducted to prevent any potential adverse environmental impacts. Source: From ''[[Nanotechnology and In situ Remediation: A review of the benefits and potential risks|http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2009/0900793/abstract.html]]'' by [[Barbara Karn|http://pewnanotechproject.us/about/leadership/senior_advisors/barbara_karn/]], [[Todd Kuiken|http://pewnanotechproject.org/about/leadership/staff/todd_kuiken/]], Martha Otto. This article has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and approved for publication.

The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies has produced a map - ''[[Nanoremediation map|http://www.nanotechproject.org/inventories/remediation_map/]]'' - showing the location of sites at which nanotechnology has been used as a remediation technology and providing some information about each site.

Related news list by date, most recent first: <<matchTags popup sort:-created nanoremediation>><<matchTags popup sort:-created waste>><<matchTags popup sort:-created nanotoxicology>>

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<br>//Silicon (Si) nanowire (NW) coils were fabricated on elastomeric substrates by a controlled buckling process. Si NWs were first transferred onto prestrained and ultraviolet/ozone (UVO) treated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) substrates, and buckled upon release of the prestrain. Two buckling modes (the in-plane wavy mode and the three-dimensional coiled mode) were found; a transition between them was achieved by controlling the UVO treatment of PDMS. Structural characterization revealed that the NW coils were oval-shaped. The oval-shaped NW coils exhibited very large stretchability up to the failure strain of PDMS (~104% in our study). Such a large stretchability relies on the effectiveness of the coil shape in mitigating the maximum local strain, with a mechanics that is similar to the motion of a coil spring. Single-NW devices based on coiled NWs were demonstrated with a nearly constant electrical response in a large strain range. In addition to the wavy shape, the coil shape represents an effective architecture in accommodating large tension, compression, bending and twist, which may find important applications for stretchable electronics and other stretchable technologies.//

{{twocolumns{
<html><img title="A completely new and controlled way of building up additional layers on the surface of the molecule" src="http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/News/pressreleases/2010/November/3-D-molecular-structurepr.jpg"  width="95%"/>
</html>

Scientists have made ''a major breakthrough that could help shape the future of nanotechnology, by demonstrating for the first time that 3-D molecular structures can be built on a surface''.

The discovery at The University of Nottingham could prove a significant step forward towards the development of new nano devices such as cutting-edge optical and electronic technologies and even molecular computers.

The team of chemists and physicists at Nottingham have shown that by introducing a ‘guest’ molecule they can build molecules upwards from a surface rather than just 2-D formations previously achieved. 

''A natural biological process known as ‘self-assembly’ meant that once the scientists introduced other molecules on to a surface their host then spontaneously arranged them into a rational 3-D structure.''

[[Professor Neil Champness|http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/chemistry/people/neil.champness#lookup-research]] said: //“It is the molecular equivalent of throwing a pile of bricks up into the air and then as they come down again they spontaneously build a house.

“Until now this has only been achievable in 2-D, so to continue the analogy the molecular ‘bricks’ would only form a path or a patio but ''our breakthrough now means that we can start to build in the third dimension. It’s a significant step forward to nanotechnology.''”//

Previously, scientists have employed a technique found in nature of using hydrogen bonds to hold DNA together to build two-dimensional molecular structure.

The new process involved introducing a guest molecule — in this case a ‘buckyball’ or C60 — on to a surface patterned by an array of tetracarboxylic acid molecules. The spherical shape of the buckyballs means they sit above the surface of the molecule and encourage other molecules to form around them. It offers scientists a completely new and controlled way of building up additional layers on the surface of the molecule.

The work is the culmination of four years’ of research led by Professors Champness and [[Peter Beton|http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~ppzstm/]] from the School of Chemistry and the School of Physics and Astronomy, which has been funded with a total of £3.5 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Source: [[World first to provide building blocks for new nano devices|http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/pressreleases/2010/november/nanodevices.aspx]]. This work is detailed in the paper [[Guest-induced growth of a surface-based supramolecular bilayer|http://www.nature.com/nchem/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nchem.901.html]] by Matthew O. Blunt, James C. Russell, Maria del Carmen Gimenez-Lopez, Nassiba Taleb, Xiang Lin, Martin Schröder, Neil R. Champness & Peter H. Beton <<slider chkSldr [[Guest-induced growth of a surface-based supramolecular bilayer]]  [[Abstract»]] [[read abstract of the paper]]>>

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{{twocolumns{
The [[FDA|http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/Nanotechnology/default.htm]] (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) issued in June 24, 2011 a draft Guidance for Industry titled ''[[“Considering Whether an FDA-Regulated Product Involves the Application of Nanotechnology”|http://www.fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/Guidances/ucm257698.htm]]'' and has launched a 60-day comment period on it. "This guidance is intended for manufacturers, suppliers, importers and other stakeholders.  The guidance describes FDA’s current thinking on whether FDA-regulated products contain nanomaterials or otherwise involve the application of nanotechnology. FDA’s guidance documents, including this guidance, do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities.  Instead, guidances describe the Agency’s current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited.  The use of the word should in Agency guidances means that something is suggested or recommended, but not required."

FDA released its document in coordination with the ''[[“Policy Principles for the U.S. Decision-Making Concerning Regulation and Oversight of Applications of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials”|http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/inforeg/for-agencies/nanotechnology-regulation-and-oversight-principles.pdf]]'' issued on June 9, 2011, jointly by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Office of Management and Budget, and the United States Trade Representative.

Prior to the FDA announcement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "announced it plans to obtain information on nanoscale materials in pesticide products. Under the requirements of the law, EPA will gather information on what nanoscale materials are present in pesticide products to determine whether the registration of a pesticide may cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment and human health. The proposed policy will be open for public comment. “We want to obtain timely and accurate information on what nanoscale materials may be in pesticide products, “said Steve Owens assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “This information is needed for EPA to meet its requirement under the law to protect public health and the environment” (From [[EPA Proposes Policy on Nanoscale Materials in Pesticide Products|http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/05ff063e9205eb3c852578aa005aa0f8?OpenDocument]]). See: ''[[Regulating Pesticides that Use Nanotechnology|http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/nanotechnology.html]]''


''Context:''
[[Don’t define nanomaterials – new commentary in Nature and an early draft|http://2020science.org/2011/07/06/dont-define-nanomaterials-new-commentary-in-nature-and-an-early-draft/]] by Andrew Maynard, director of the University of Michigan Risk Science Center. July 6, 2011
[[“Principles” Issued|http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/small_steps_on_nano/]] by Gwyneth K. Shaw. New Haven Independent. Jul 1, 2011
[[EU Rejects Development of Separate Nanomaterials Regulation|http://www.chemweek.com/home/top_of_the_news/EU-Rejects-Development-of-Separate-Nanomaterials-Regulation_35693.html]] by Alex Scott. Chemical Week, part of IHS, Inc. June 28, 2011
[[Toward Nanotech Regulation|http://pubs.acs.org/cen/government/89/8926gov2.html]] by Britt E. Erickson. C&EN Chemical & Engineering News, published by the American Chemical Society. June 27, 2011
[[FDA Takes ‘First Step’ Toward Greater Regulatory Certainty Around Nanotechnology|http://www.internano.org/content/view/540/251/]] by Jessica Adamick. InterNano, a service of the National Nanomanufacturing Network. June 24, 2011
[[Nanotechnology is Entering a New Legal Frontier|http://www.seolawfirm.com/2011/06/nanotechnology-is-entering-a-new-legal-frontier/]] by Krystina Steffen. The SEO | Law Firm News. June 22, 2011
[[Nano regulatory frameworks are everywhere!|http://www.frogheart.ca/?p=3698]] by Maryse de la Giroday. FrogHeart Communications. June 22, 2011
[[FDA Tries to Address Some Concerns Over Nanotech in Biotech|http://www.genengnews.com/analysis-and-insight/fda-tries-to-address-some-concerns-over-nanotech-in-biotech/77899422/]] by Alex Philippidis. GEN, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News.  June 21, 2011
[[EU: First practical guidance for assessing nano applications in food & feed]]. NanoWiki. May 11, 2011
[[EU scientific committee publishes opinion on definition of nanomaterials]]. NanoWiki. December 23, 2010


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{{twocolumns{
<html>
<img src="http://www.fom.nl/live/imgnew.db?120295"  title="Smoluchowski's thought experiment with the vanes on the right, the cog on the left and in the middle a pulley with a weight. Inset: the granular demonstration experiment" width="100%"/>
</html>
Researchers from the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter and University of Twente in the Netherlands, and the University of Patras in Greece have for the first time experimentally realised, almost a century later, an idea dating from 1912. In that year the physicist Smoluchowski devised a prototype for an engine at the molecular scale in which he thought he could ingeniously convert Brownian motion into work. The team of scientists have now successfully constructed this device at the much larger scale of a granular gas. Moreover, they have shown that an intriguing exchange takes place between the vanes of the engine and the granular gas: once the vanes have started rotating, they in turn induce a rotating motion in the gas, a so-called convection roll. This reinforces the movement of the device and allows for a virtually continuous rotation. Molecular motors, such as those responsible for tensing and relaxing your muscles, move in a strange manner: they propel themselves forwards despite - or thanks to - a continuous bombardment of the randomly moving molecules in their surroundings. ''This random movement is called [[Brownian motion|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownian_motion]] and a well-constructed motor at the nanoscale actually makes use of this to generate a directed movement (and therefore work). The device introduced by the physicist [[Marian Smoluchowski|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_Smoluchowski]] in 1912, as a thought experiment, is a classical example of such a motor.'' Source: From ''[[Classical thought experiment brought to life in granular gas|http://www.fom.nl/live/english/news/artikel.pag?objectnumber=120223]]''. This work is detailed in the paper [[Experimental Realization of a Rotational Ratchet in a Granular Gas|http://prl.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v104/i24/e248001]] by Peter Eshuis, Ko van der Weele, Detlef Lohse, and Devaraj van der Meer. "We construct a [[ratchet of the Smoluchowski-Feynman type|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownian_ratchet]], consisting of four vanes that are allowed to rotate freely in a vibrofluidized granular gas. The necessary out-of-equilibrium environment is provided by the inelastically colliding grains, and the equally crucial symmetry breaking by applying a soft coating to one side of each vane. The onset of the ratchet effect occurs at a critical shaking strength via a smooth, continuous phase transition. For very strong shaking the vanes interact actively with the gas and a convection roll develops, sustaining the rotation of the vanes."

''Movies of the experiment'':  http://stilton.tnw.utwente.nl/dryquicksand/ratchet/ratchet.html

<html>
<img src="http://www.fom.nl/live/imgnew.db?120294"  title="The thought experiment is brought to life in a granular gas: the experimental setup (left) and the device in operation (right). " width="100%"/>
</html>

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|Description|a small collection of overrides to TW core functions   |
This tiddler contains changes TW core functions to provide minor changes in standard features or behavior.  It is hoped that some of these tweaks may someday be added into the TW core, so that these adjustments will be available without needing these add-on definitions.
>''Note: the changes contained in this tiddler are generally applicable for version 2.4.1 of TiddlyWiki. Please view [[CoreTweaksArchive]] for tweaks that may be used with earlier versions of TiddlyWiki.''
----
***/
// // {{block{
/***
!!!824 ~WindowTitle - alternative to combined ~SiteTitle/~SiteSubtitle in window titlebar
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/824 - OPEN
This tweak allows definition of an optional [[WindowTitle]] tiddler that, when present, provides alternative text for display in the browser window's titlebar, instead of using the combined text content from [[SiteTitle]] and [[SiteSubtitle]] (which will still be displayed as usual in the TiddlyWiki document header area).

Note: this ticket replaces http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/401 (closed), which proposed using a custom [[PageTitle]] tiddler for this purpose.  ''If you were using the previous '401 ~PageTitle' tweak, you will need to rename [[PageTitle]] to [[WindowTitle]] to continue to use your custom window title text''
***/
//{{{
config.shadowTiddlers.WindowTitle='<<tiddler SiteTitle>> - <<tiddler SiteSubtitle>>';
window.getPageTitle=function() { return wikifyPlain('WindowTitle'); }
store.addNotification('WindowTitle',refreshPageTitle); // so title stays in sync with tiddler changes
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!823 apply option values via paramifiers (e.g. #chk...and #txt...)
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/823 - no ticket yet
This tweak extends and ''//replaces//'' the core {{{invokeParamifier()}}} function to support use of ''option paramifiers'' that set TiddlyWiki option values on-the-fly, directly from a document URL.

If a paramifier begins with 'chk' (checkbox) or 'txt' (text field), it's value will be automatically stored in {{{config.options.*}}}, adding to or overriding any existing 'chk' or 'txt' option values that may have already been loaded from browser cookies and/or assigned by the TW core or plugin initialization functions using hard-coded default values.  Note: option values that have been overriden by paramifiers are only applied during the current document session, and are not //automatically// retained.  However, if you edit an overridden option value during that session, then the modified value is, of course, saved in a browser cookie, as usual.
***/
//{{{
function invokeParamifier(params,handler)
{
	if(!params || params.length == undefined || params.length <= 1)
		return;
	for(var t=1; t<params.length; t++) {
		var p = config.paramifiers[params[t].name];
		if(p && p[handler] instanceof Function)
			p[handler](params[t].value);
		else { // not a paramifier with handler()... check for an 'option' prefix
			var h=config.optionHandlers[params[t].name.substr(0,3)];
			if (h && h.set instanceof Function)
				h.set(params[t].name,params[t].value);
		}
	}
}
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!784 allow tiddler sections in TiddlyLinks to be used as anchor points for intra-tiddler scrolling.  
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/784 - OPEN
You can use the tiddler section syntax within the {{{<<tiddler>>}}} macro to //transclude// a subsection of one tiddler into another (e.g., {{{<<tiddler SomeTiddler##SomeSection>>}}}).  However, if this syntax is used in a TiddlyLink (e.g., {{{[[SomeTiddler##SomeSection]]}}}), the entire reference is treated as a link to a (non-existent) tiddler that includes the section reference in the tiddler title itself.

This tweak extends the TiddlyLink and displayTiddler() processing so that section references in links can be used to auto-scroll to the indicated heading within a tiddler (i.e., the same 'anchor' behavior as {{{<a name="foo">}}} and {{{<a href="#foo">...</a>}}} when using HTML syntax).
***/
//{{{
Story.prototype.scrollToSection = function(title,section) {
	if (!title||!section) return; var t=this.getTiddler(title); if (!t) return null;
	var elems=t.getElementsByTagName('*');
	for (var i=0; i<elems.length; i++) { var e=elems[i];
		if (!['H1','H2','H3','H4','H5'].contains(e.nodeName)) continue;
		if (getPlainText(e).indexOf(section)!=-1) {
			var delay=config.options.chkAnimate?config.animDuration+1:0; // scroll *after* tiddler animation
			setTimeout('window.scrollTo(0,'+findPosY(e)+')',delay);
			return e;
		}
	}
}
window.createTiddlyLink_sectionanchor=window.createTiddlyLink;
window.createTiddlyLink=function(place,title) {
	var t=story.findContainingTiddler(place); var tid=t?t.getAttribute('tiddler'):'';
	var parts=title.split(config.textPrimitives.sectionSeparator);
	if (!parts[0].length) parts[0]=tid;  // default to current tiddler for '##section' links
	if (parts[1]) arguments[1]=parts[0]; // trim section from tiddler title
	var btn=createTiddlyLink_sectionanchor.apply(this,arguments);
	if (parts[1]) btn.setAttribute('section',parts[1]); // save section
	return btn;
}
window.onClickTiddlerLink_sectionanchor=window.onClickTiddlerLink;
window.onClickTiddlerLink=function(ev) {
	var e=ev||window.event;	var target=resolveTarget(e); var title=null;
	while (target!=null && title==null) {
		title=target.getAttribute('tiddlyLink');
		section=target.getAttribute('section');
		target=target.parentNode;
	} 
	var t=story.findContainingTiddler(target); var tid=t?t.getAttribute('tiddler'):'';
	if (title!=tid||!section) onClickTiddlerLink_sectionanchor.apply(this,arguments); // avoid excess scrolling
	story.scrollToSection(title,section);
	return false;
}
Story.prototype.displayTiddler_sectionanchor=Story.prototype.displayTiddler;
Story.prototype.displayTiddler = function(srcElement,tiddler)
{
	var title=(tiddler instanceof Tiddler)?tiddler.title:tiddler;
	var parts=title.split(config.textPrimitives.sectionSeparator);
	if (parts[0].length && parts[1]) arguments[1]=parts[0]; // trim section from tiddler title
	this.displayTiddler_sectionanchor.apply(this,arguments);
	story.scrollToSection(parts[0],parts[1]);
}
config.formatterHelpers.isExternalLink_sectionanchor=config.formatterHelpers.isExternalLink;
config.formatterHelpers.isExternalLink=function(link) {
	if (link.indexOf(config.textPrimitives.sectionSeparator)!=-1) return false;
	return config.formatterHelpers.isExternalLink_sectionanchor.apply(this,arguments);
}
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!757 add removeCookie() function
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/757 - OPEN
When a TW option is reset to it's hard-coded default value, the corresponding browser cookie is usually just set to that default value, which results in an accumulation of unnecessary cookies.  Unfortunately, there is a browser-imposed limit on the number of cookies that are stored for any given domain and, when that limit is reached, the browser starts removing cookies on it's own, thereby unexpectedly discarding some TW settings.  In order to allow core and/or plugin code to 'clean up after themselves' and remove unneeded cookies, this tweak provides a new 'core' function, removeCookie() that is the inverse of the existing saveOptionCookie(), and results in the actual deletion of the browser cookie associated with the specified TW option.
***/
//{{{
if (window.removeCookie===undefined) {
	window.removeCookie=function(name) {
		document.cookie = name+'=; expires=Thu, 01-Jan-1970 00:00:01 UTC; path=/;'; 
	}
}
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!749 ieCreatePath fixup for handling / in UNC paths
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/749 - OPEN
***/
//{{{
// tweak ieCreatePath to add fallback check for / (in addition to current check for \)
var fn=window.ieCreatePath;
fn=fn.toString().replace(/function ieCreatePath\(path\)/,'window.ieCreatePath=function(path)');
fn=fn.toString().replace(/var pos = path.lastIndexOf\("\\\\"\);/,
	'var pos=path.lastIndexOf("\\\\"); if(pos==-1) pos=path.lastIndexOf("/");');
eval(fn);
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!741 allow """<hr>""" directly in wiki-formatted content
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/741 - OPEN
This tweak extends the 'horizontal rule' formatter to recognize {{{<hr>}}} (or {{{<hr />}}}) directly in tiddler content without being enclosed within an HTML block (i.e., {{{<html><hr></html>}}}).  This allows HR elements to be used within table cell content, bullet items and other ''line-mode'' syntax, where the required use of newlines surrounding the """----""" syntax would interfere with the enclosing line-mode formatting.
***/
//{{{
config.formatters[config.formatters.findByField('name','rule')].match+='|<hr ?/?>\\n?';
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!683 FireFox3 Import bug: 'browse' button replacement
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/683 - OPEN
The web standard 'type=file' input control that has been used as a local path/file picker for TiddlyWiki no longer works as expected in FireFox3, which has, for security reasons, limited javascript access to this control so that *no* local filesystem path information can be revealed, even when it is intentional and necessary, as it is with TiddlyWiki.  This tweak provides alternative HTML source that patches the backstage import panel.  It replaces the 'type=file' input control with a text+button combination of controls that invokes a system-native secure 'file-chooser' dialog box to provide TiddlyWiki with access to a complete path+filename so that TW functions properly locate user-selected local files.
>Note: ''This tweak also requires http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/604 - cross-platform askForFilename()''
***/
//{{{
if (window.Components) {
	var fixhtml='<input name="txtBrowse" style="width:30em"><input type="button" value="..."'
		+' onClick="window.browseForFilename(this.previousSibling,true)">';
	var cmi=config.macros.importTiddlers;
	cmi.step1Html=cmi.step1Html.replace(/<input type='file' size=50 name='txtBrowse'>/,fixhtml);
}

merge(config.messages,{selectFile:'Please enter or select a file'}); // ready for I18N translation

window.browseForFilename=function(target,mustExist) { // note: both params are optional
	var msg=config.messages.selectFile;
	if (target && target.title) msg=target.title; // use target field tooltip (if any) as dialog prompt text
	// get local path for current document
	var path=getLocalPath(document.location.href);
	var p=path.lastIndexOf('/'); if (p==-1) p=path.lastIndexOf('\\'); // Unix or Windows
	if (p!=-1) path=path.substr(0,p+1); // remove filename, leave trailing slash
	var file=''
	var result=window.askForFilename(msg,path,file,mustExist); // requires #604
	if (target && result.length) // set target field and trigger handling
		{ target.value=result; target.onchange(); }
	return result; 
}
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!604 cross-platform askForFilename()
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/604 - OPEN
invokes a system-native secure 'file-chooser' dialog box to provide TiddlyWiki with access to a complete path+filename so that TW functions properly locate user-selected local files.
***/
//{{{
window.askForFilename=function(msg,path,file,mustExist) {
	var r = window.mozAskForFilename(msg,path,file,mustExist);
	if(r===null || r===false)
		r = window.ieAskForFilename(msg,path,file,mustExist);
	if(r===null || r===false)
		r = window.javaAskForFilename(msg,path,file,mustExist);
	if(r===null || r===false)
		r = prompt(msg,path+file);
	return r||'';
}

window.mozAskForFilename=function(msg,path,file,mustExist) {
	if(!window.Components) return false;
	try {
		netscape.security.PrivilegeManager.enablePrivilege('UniversalXPConnect');
		var nsIFilePicker = window.Components.interfaces.nsIFilePicker;
		var picker = Components.classes['@mozilla.org/filepicker;1'].createInstance(nsIFilePicker);
		picker.init(window, msg, mustExist?nsIFilePicker.modeOpen:nsIFilePicker.modeSave);
		var thispath = Components.classes['@mozilla.org/file/local;1'].createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsILocalFile);
		thispath.initWithPath(path);
		picker.displayDirectory=thispath;
		picker.defaultExtension='html';
		picker.defaultString=file;
		picker.appendFilters(nsIFilePicker.filterAll|nsIFilePicker.filterText|nsIFilePicker.filterHTML);
		if (picker.show()!=nsIFilePicker.returnCancel)
			var result=picker.file.persistentDescriptor;
	}
	catch(ex) { displayMessage(ex.toString()); }
	return result;
}

window.ieAskForFilename=function(msg,path,file,mustExist) {
	if(!config.browser.isIE) return false;
	try {
		var s = new ActiveXObject('UserAccounts.CommonDialog');
		s.Filter='All files|*.*|Text files|*.txt|HTML files|*.htm;*.html|';
		s.FilterIndex=3; // default to HTML files;
		s.InitialDir=path;
		s.FileName=file;
		return s.showOpen()?s.FileName:'';
	}
	catch(ex) { displayMessage(ex.toString()); }
	return result;
}

window.javaAskForFilename=function(msg,path,file,mustExist) {
	if(!document.applets['TiddlySaver']) return false;
	// TBD: implement java-based askFile(...) function
	try { return document.applets['TiddlySaver'].askFile(msg,path,file,mustExist); } 
	catch(ex) { displayMessage(ex.toString()); }
}
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!676 #story:... paramifier
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/676 - OPEN
extends #story:... to scan the specified 'story' tiddler content for embedded links, rather than simply parsing the content as a space-separated bracketed list.  This allows links from ''any'' tiddler to be used as a story, regardless of other wiki-syntax contained in that tiddler.  If specified tiddler is a shadow, fallback to using parseParams() to extract the list of links.
***/
//{{{
config.paramifiers.story = {
	onstart: function(v) {
		var t=store.getTiddler(v); if (t) t.changed();
		var list=t?t.links:store.getTiddlerText(v,'').parseParams('open',null,false);
		story.displayTiddlers(null,list);
	}
};
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!664 Loose links (case-folded/space-folded wiki words)
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/664 - OPEN
This tweak matches non-WikiWord variations of mixed-case and/or added/omitted spaces within double-bracketed text with titles of //existing// tiddlers, using a 'loose' (case-folded/space-folded) comparison.  This allows text that occurs in normal prose to be more easily linked to tiddler titles by using double-brackets without the full 'pretty link' syntax.  For example:
{{{
[[CoreTweaks]], [[coreTweaks]], [[core tweaks]],
[[CORE TWEAKS]], [[CoRe TwEaKs]], [[coreTWEAKS]]
}}}
>[[CoreTweaks]], [[coreTweaks]], [[core tweaks]],
>[[CORE TWEAKS]], [[CoRe TwEaKs]], [[coreTWEAKS]]
Configuration:
><<option chkLooseLinks>> Allow case-folded and/or space-folded text to link to existing tiddler titles
>"""<<option chkLooseLinks>>"""
***/
//{{{
if (!config.options.chkLooseLinks)
	config.options.chkLooseLinks=false; // default to standard behavior
window.caseFold_createTiddlyLink = window.createTiddlyLink;
window.createTiddlyLink = function(place,title,includeText,className) {
	var btn=window.caseFold_createTiddlyLink.apply(this,arguments); // create core link
	if (!config.options.chkLooseLinks) return btn;
	if (store.getTiddlerText(title)) return btn; // matching tiddler (or shadow) exists
	var target=title.toLowerCase().replace(/\s/g,'');
	var tids=store.getTiddlers('title');
	for (var t=0; t<tids.length; t++) {
		if (tids[t].title.toLowerCase().replace(/\s/g,'')==target) {
			var i=getTiddlyLinkInfo(tids[t].title,className);
			btn.setAttribute('tiddlyLink',tids[t].title);
			btn.title=i.subTitle;
			btn.className=i.classes;
			break;
		}
	}
	return btn;
}
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!657 wrap tabs onto multiple lines
***/

// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/657 - OPEN
This tweak inserts an extra space element following each tab, allowing them to wrap onto multiple lines if needed.
***/
//{{{
config.macros.tabs.handler = function(place,macroName,params)
{
	var cookie = params[0];
	var numTabs = (params.length-1)/3;
	var wrapper = createTiddlyElement(null,'div',null,'tabsetWrapper ' + cookie);
	var tabset = createTiddlyElement(wrapper,'div',null,'tabset');
	tabset.setAttribute('cookie',cookie);
	var validTab = false;
	for(var t=0; t<numTabs; t++) {
		var label = params[t*3+1];
		var prompt = params[t*3+2];
		var content = params[t*3+3];
		var tab = createTiddlyButton(tabset,label,prompt,this.onClickTab,'tab tabUnselected');
		createTiddlyElement(tab,'span',null,null,' ',{style:'font-size:0pt;line-height:0px'}); // ELS
		tab.setAttribute('tab',label);
		tab.setAttribute('content',content);
		tab.title = prompt;
		if(config.options[cookie] == label)
			validTab = true;
	}
	if(!validTab)
		config.options[cookie] = params[1];
	place.appendChild(wrapper);
	this.switchTab(tabset,config.options[cookie]);
};
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!637 TiddlyLink tooltip - custom formatting
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/637 - OPEN
This tweak modifies the tooltip format that appears when you mouseover a link to a tiddler.  It adds an option to control the date format, as well as displaying the size of the tiddler (in bytes)

Tiddler link tooltip format:
{{stretch{<<option txtTiddlerLinkTootip>>}}}
^^where: %0=title, %1=username, %2=modification date, %3=size in bytes, %4=description slice^^
Tiddler link tooltip date format:
{{stretch{<<option txtTiddlerLinkTooltipDate>>}}}
***/
//{{{
config.messages.tiddlerLinkTooltip='%0 - %1, %2 (%3 bytes) - %4';
config.messages.tiddlerLinkTooltipDate='DDD, MMM DDth YYYY 0hh12:0mm AM';

config.options.txtTiddlerLinkTootip=
	config.options.txtTiddlerLinkTootip||config.messages.tiddlerLinkTooltip;
config.options.txtTiddlerLinkTooltipDate=
	config.options.txtTiddlerLinkTooltipDate||config.messages.tiddlerLinkTooltipDate;

Tiddler.prototype.getSubtitle = function() {
	var modifier = this.modifier;
	if(!modifier) modifier = config.messages.subtitleUnknown;
	var modified = this.modified;
	if(modified) modified = modified.formatString(config.options.txtTiddlerLinkTooltipDate);
	else modified = config.messages.subtitleUnknown;
	var descr=store.getTiddlerSlice(this.title,'Description')||'';
	return config.options.txtTiddlerLinkTootip.format([this.title,modifier,modified,this.text.length,descr]);
};
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!628 hide 'no such macro' errors
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/628 - OPEN
When invoking a macro that is not defined, this tweak prevents the display of the 'error in macro... no such macro' message.  This is useful when rendering tiddler content or templates that reference macros that are defined by //optional// plugins that have not been installed in the current document.

<<option chkHideMissingMacros>> hide 'no such macro' error messages
***/
//{{{
if (config.options.chkHideMissingMacros===undefined)
	config.options.chkHideMissingMacros=false;

window.coreTweaks_missingMacro_invokeMacro = window.invokeMacro;
window.invokeMacro = function(place,macro,params,wikifier,tiddler) {
	if (!config.macros[macro] || !config.macros[macro].handler)
		if (config.options.chkHideMissingMacros) return;
	window.coreTweaks_missingMacro_invokeMacro.apply(this,arguments);
}
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!609/610 toolbars - separators and transclusion
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/609 - OPEN (separators)
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/610 - OPEN (wikify tiddler/slice/section content)
These tweaks extend the """<<toolbar>>""" macro to permit use of '|' as separators, as well as recognizing references to tiddlernames, slices, or sections and rendering their content inline within the toolbar
''see [[ToolbarCommands]] for examples of how these features can be used''
***/
//{{{
merge(config.macros.toolbar,{
	separator: '|'
	});
config.macros.toolbar.handler = function(place,macroName,params,wikifier,paramString,tiddler)
{
	for(var t=0; t<params.length; t++) {
		var c = params[t];
		switch(c) {
			case '|':  // ELS - SEPARATOR
			case '!':  // ELS - SEPARATOR (alternative for use in tiddler slices)
				createTiddlyText(place,this.separator); // ELS
				break; // ELS
			case '>':
				var btn = createTiddlyButton(place,this.moreLabel,this.morePrompt,config.macros.toolbar.onClickMore);
				addClass(btn,'moreCommand');
				var e = createTiddlyElement(place,'span',null,'moreCommand');
				e.style.display = 'none';
				place = e;
				break;
			default:
				var theClass = '';
				switch(c.substr(0,1)) {
					case '+':
						theClass = 'defaultCommand';
						c = c.substr(1);
						break;
					case '-':
						theClass = 'cancelCommand';
						c = c.substr(1);
						break;
				}
				if(c in config.commands)

					this.createCommand(place,c,tiddler,theClass);
				else { // ELS - WIKIFY TIDDLER/SLICE/SECTION
					if (c.substr(0,1)=='~') c=c.substr(1); // ignore leading ~
					var txt=store.getTiddlerText(c);
					if (txt) {
						txt=txt.replace(/^\n*/,'').replace(/\n*$/,''); // trim any leading/trailing newlines
						txt=txt.replace(/^\{\{\{\n/,'').replace(/\n\}\}\}$/,''); // trim PRE format wrapper if any
						wikify(txt,createTiddlyElement(place,'span'),null,tiddler);
					}
				} // ELS - end WIKIFY CONTENT
				break;
		}
	}
};
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!608 toolbar - more/less toggle
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/608 - OPEN
This tweak extends the """<<toolbar>>""" macro to make the '>' (more) a //toggle// between more/less with the additional toolbar commands displayed on a separate line.
***/
//{{{
merge(config.macros.toolbar,{
	moreLabel: 'more',
	morePrompt: 'Show additional commands',
	lessLabel: 'less',
	lessPrompt: 'Hide additional commands'
});
config.macros.toolbar.onClickMore = function(ev)
{
	var e = this.nextSibling;
	var showing=e.style.display=='block';
	e.style.display = showing?'none':'block';
	this.innerHTML=showing?config.macros.toolbar.moreLabel:config.macros.toolbar.lessLabel;
	this.title=showing?config.macros.toolbar.morePrompt:config.macros.toolbar.lessPrompt;
	return false;
};
//}}}
// // }}}}}}// // {{block{
/***
!!!607 add HREF link on permaview command
***/
// // {{groupbox small{
/***
http://trac.tiddlywiki.org/ticket/607 - OPEN
This tweak automatically sets the HREF for the 'permaview' sidebar command link so you can use the 'right click' context menu for faster, easier bookmarking