X-Message-Number: 24956
From: "Gina Miller" <>
References: <>
Subject: The Nanogirl News~
Date: Sun, 31 Oct 2004 16:09:05 -0800

The Nanogirl News
October 31, 2004


Reconstructing Neural Circuits in 3D, Nanometer by Nanometer. The authors' 
custom-designed microtome holds the tissue block in a way that ensures image 
alignment and maintains focus; all the while the specimen surface is positioned 
close enough to the objective lens to allow high-resolution imaging. Denk and 
Horstmann expect that with this method they might ultimately be able to cut 
sections thinner than the 50 nanometers that their current setup manages. This 
then would allow them to cut sections even thinner than what is routinely 
possible in conventional transmission electron microscopy. While the authors 
doubt that the lateral resolution will ever reach that of transmission electron 
microscopy, they also argue that such high resolution may not actually be needed
to trace neuronal connectivity. On the other hand, the method accelerates 3D 
electron microscopic data collection "by several orders of magnitude" by 
obviating the need for the labor-intensive adjustments to correct alignment and 
distortion required by other methods, an advance that is crucial for 
large-volume neuroanatomy and might, in addition, open up many hitherto 
inaccessible problems to ultra-structural investigations. (Plosbiology November 
04)


http://www.plosbiology.org/plosonline/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0020388


The National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced today at a media briefing a new 
$144.3 million, five-year initiative to develop and apply nanotechnology to 
cancer. Nanotechnology, the development and engineering of devices so small that
they are measured on a molecular scale, has already demonstrated promising 
results in cancer research and treatment. "Nanotechnology has the potential to 
radically increase our options for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of 
cancer," said Andrew von Eschenbach, M.D., director of the National Cancer 
Institute. "NCI's commitment to this cancer initiative comes at a critical time.
Nanotechnology supports and expands the scientific advances in genomics and 
proteomics and builds on our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of 
cancer. These are the pillars which will support progress in cancer." 
(Medicalnewstoday 10/13/04)
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=14905


CRN Announces the Wise-Nano Project. The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology 
(CRN) has initiated the Wise-Nano project, a collaborative online effort to 
study the facts and implications of advanced nanotechnology. Wise-Nano.org is a 
website for researchers worldwide to work together, helping to build an 
understanding of the technologies, their effects, and what to do about them. 
(PRWEB Oct 16, 2004) http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/10/prwebxml168143.php


Tumbleweeds in the Bloodstream. Molecule-size sensors inside astronauts' cells 
could warn of health impacts from space radiation. Wouldn't it be nice if the 
cells in your body would simply tell you when you're starting to get sick, long 
before symptoms appear? Or alert you when a tumor is growing, while it's still 
microscopic and harmless? The ability to detect changes inside of individual 
cells while those cells are still inside your body would be a boon to medicine. 
NASA-supported scientists are developing a technology right now that could, if 
it works, do exactly that. (Yubanet 10/30/04) 
http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_14835.shtml


New Study: Nanotechnology Poised to Revolutionize Tech, Manufacturing Markets; 
Market Will Rival Sales Volume of Combined Tech and Telecom Markets. Sales of 
products incorporating nanotechnology will total $2.6 trillion in 10 years, 
approximately one-fifth of the current Gross Domestic Product (GDP (news - web 
sites)), greatly exceeding previous estimates, according to a new report 
released by a leading Wall Street financial analyst. Nano- enhanced products 
will account for 50 percent of all electronics and information technology 
products and 16 percent of all healthcare products by 2014, according to the 
report. (U.S. Newswire 10/29/04)
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=39155


It's time for an alternative fuel. The era of human development with oil and gas
as energy source is nearing its end and in the next 30-40 years, there will be 
a 'clean break' to produce energy from renewable, non-fossil fuels, mostly from 
hydrogen. The rise in global temperature due to emission of green house gases 
will force man to seek alternatives so that life is viable on earth, M S 
Srinivasan, additional secretary, Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, 
said today... 'By combining nanotechnology manipulating subatomic particles for 
new products and hydrogen for alternative fuel, a way can be found on how to 
store hydrogen and discharge into the usage system,' he said. (Regionalfare 
10/30/04) http://newstodaynet.com/30oct/rf14.htm


DuPont Becomes Founding Sponsor of International Council on Nanotechnology. The 
Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology (CBEN) at Rice University
in Houston, Texas, recently announced the formation of the International 
Council on Nanotechnology (ICON). The ICON is a collaboration among academic, 
industry, regulatory and non-governmental interest groups that will work to 
assess, communicate, and reduce potential environmental and health risks 
associated with nanotechnology. (A2Znano 10/29/04) 
http://www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=387


(Book) Inner Limits A novel by Frank John Ingersoll. An Eye-Opening Glimpse Into
An Immediate Future. Is it possible that man might recreate himself without 
flaws? Medicine, Science, technology and religion are all racing towards the 
prize in mankind's quest to attain perfection. The novel, Inner Limits explores 
the possibilities that realistically, now appear to be within our 
grasp...Nanotechnology is creating nanomachines that are so small that 2-billion
of them can fit on the point of a needle. Can they be programmed to rid a body 
of cancer, rebuild cartilage in a knee, help you loose weight or improve your 
sex life? Can Nanotechnology also be programmed to get rid of all evil or create
evil? Can it overcome Satan's power over so many? Can man program over God's 
plan for you? (Christian Magazine Online 10/29/04) 
http://www.saworship.com/article-page.php?ID=1557&Page=couples.php


Drug-dispensing Contact Lens Developed. Could treat eye diseases better than 
drops. Drug-loaded contact lenses have been developed that could treat eye 
conditions such as glaucoma far more effectively than drops. Usually sufferers 
of glaucoma and many other eye conditions are prescribed eye drops. These can 
mix with tears, however, and drain into the nose where they enter the 
bloodstream and cause side-effects. As well, drops are inconsistent and 
difficult to regulate. Researchers from the Institute of Bioengineering and 
Nanotechnology (IBN) in Singapore recognized this problem and have created a 
contact lens material that can deliver drug treatments directly into the eye. 
(Betterhumans 10/29/04) 
http://www.betterhumans.com/News/news.aspx?articleID=2004-10-29-3


Nanodevices target viruses. Physicists are used to detecting inanimate objects 
like photons and particles but two teams of researchers in the US have now 
turned their attention to very different targets -- viruses. Harold Craighead 
and colleagues at Cornell University used a nanoelectromechanical device to 
detect an insect baculovirus, while Charles Lieber and co-workers at Harvard 
University employed a nanowire field-effect transistor to detect single 
influenza viruses. The new methods could be scaled up for applications in 
medicine or the detection of biological weapons. (Physicsweb 10/8/04) 
http://physicsweb.org/articles/news/8/10/6/1


Total of $80,000 Awarded to Eight Promising Nanotechnology Ideas. QD Vision, 
Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., was awarded the top prize today in the first 
International Nanotechnology Business Idea Competition for its idea to produce 
the next generation of flat panel displays. The startup company received $50,000
in cash, plus business plan writing assistance and additional business advisory
services."We couldn't be happier," said Greg Moeller, vice president of sales 
and marketing for the company. "Winning this competition is going to allow us to
secure the intellectual property [behind the company's flat panel 
displays]."..Judges from the ranks of nanotechnology research, venture capital 
and business reviewed entries from 14 states and four countries. Twenty-five 
teams were selected to participate in a semifinal round of judging, which took 
place Thursday, October 28. Eight teams competed in today's finals at Case. (PR 
Newswire 10/29/04)


http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/10-29-2004/0002317805&EDATE=


UCLA Chemists Report New Nano Phenomenon: Welding in Response to an Ordinary 
Camera Flash. UCLA chemists report the discovery of a remarkable new nanoscale 
phenomenon: An ordinary camera flash causes the instantaneous welding together 
of nanofibers made of polyaniline, a unique synthetic polymer that can be made 
in either a conducting or an insulating form. The discovery, which the chemists 
call "flash welding," is published in the November issue of the journal Nature 
Materials..."I was very surprised," Kaner said. "My graduate student, Jiaxing 
Huang, decided to take some pictures of his polyaniline nanofibers one evening 
when he heard a distinct popping sound and smelled burning plastic. Jiaxing 
recalled a paper that we had discussed during a group meeting reporting that 
carbon nanotubes burned up in response to a camera flash. By adjusting the 
distance of the camera flash to his material, he was able to produce smooth 
films with no burning, making this new discovery potentially useful." (UCLA 
10/28/04) http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=5602


ASU Biodesign Researcher to Explore Revolutionary Gene Sequencing: Threading the
Molecular Needle. A radical new method of DNA sequencing currently being 
explored by Stuart Lindsay, Director of the Center for Single Molecule 
Biophysics in the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University and Professor 
of  Physics at ASU, could make the long-dreamt-of era of true genetic medicine 
possible with extremely rapid, accurate and low cost sequencing of single DNA 
molecules...Lindsay's new sequencing technology involves using Atomic Force 
Microscopy (AFM), which is customarily used to analyze the surface structure of 
materials at molecular resolution with the ultra-small  tip of a sensitive 
probe, in combination with naturally occurring ring-shaped sugar molecules 
called cyclodextrins. Lindsay believes that the ring molecules, when paired with
the AFM probe tip, can effectively be used as sensors to "read" the sequence of
amino acid code (DNA "bases") in the human genome that comprises many millions 
of bases. (ASU 10/29/04) 
http://www.asu.edu/asunews/research/lindsay_sequencing_102904.htm


Researchers watch water inside nanotubes. Researchers from Drexel University, 
US, the University of Illinois at Chicago, US, and the Tokyo Institute of 
Technology in Japan have filled closed multiwalled carbon nanotubes between just
2 and 5 nm in diameter with water. The team says its work is of fundamental 
importance for understanding liquid behavior at the nanoscale.
(nanotechweb 10/27/04) http://nanotechweb.org/articles/news/3/10/19/1


UK government report warns of potential nanotechnology risks. A report by the 
UK's Health and Safety Executive has concluded that the safety of the tiny 
particles created by the emerging nanotechnology industry has not been fully 
assessed. (Drugresearcher 10/28/04)
http://www.drugresearcher.com/news/news-ng.asp?n=55715-uk-government-report


A Nanowire with a Surprise. New research may advance the nanoelectronics field. 
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and
their collaborators have discovered that a short, organic chain molecule with 
dimensions on the order of a nanometer (a billionth of a meter) conducts 
electrons in a surprising way: It regulates the electrons' speed erratically, 
without a predictable dependence on the length of the wire. This information may
help scientists learn how to use nanowires to create components for a new class
of tiny electronic circuits. (Brookhaven 10/18/04) 
http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/pubaf/pr/PR_display.asp?prID=04-92


Report: Nano-product sales to $2.6 trillion by 2014. Global sales of products 
incorporating nanoscale technologies could rise to more than $2.6 trillion in 
2014, according to a new industry report. Lux Research Inc.'s  "Sizing 
Nanotechnology's Value Chain" predicts that revenues from products incorporating
nano-based approaches will total $13 billion, $8.5 billion of which lies in 
automotive and aerospace applications. Most are high-end uses, and the amount 
represents about 0.1 percent of the global manufacturing output. (Smalltimes 
10/28/04)
http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?section_id=51&document_id=8403


(PDF document) Research News from the MRS Bulletin: Silica-coated SWNTs form 
unique nanostructures; Novel liquid-crystal phases formed with introduction of 
chirality; High-strength reticulated porous ceramics; Cracks in rubber propagate
faster than the speed of sound; F-containing molecules serve as 
structure-directing agentsin synthesis of molecular sieves; Flame-spraying 
technique yields aluminate bulk glasses and nanoceramics; Composite 
polymer-carbon nanotubes function as optoelectronic memory devices (MRS October 
04) http://www.mrs.org/publications/bulletin/2004/oct/oct04_researchers.pdf


Taiwan on cusp of nanotech rewards. From the harvesting of rice to the 
harnessing of nano products, Taiwan's skill based industries are expected to 
utilize this new-found scientific breakthrough. Long Qiang Nano Technology 
Corporation and Taiwan textile Research Institute (TTRI) announced their joint 
venture in exploring and planning more nano-based applications yesterday in 
Taipei County.

(The China Post 10/30/04) 
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/detail.asp?GRP=E&id=53922


Nanotech group's invitations declined. A new effort by industry leaders and 
others to engender public trust in nanotechnology, the young science of making 
invisibly small materials, has run into difficulties on the eve of its first 
meeting after environmental and citizen groups declined to join for now because 
of doubts the initiative will serve the public interest. None of the three 
invited representatives of environmental groups has agreed to join the newly 
created International Council on Nanotechnology at its inaugural meeting in 
Houston today. 

(The Smalltimes 10/28/04) 
http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=8401


Happy Halloween!

Gina "Nanogirl" Miller
Nanotechnology Industries
http://www.nanoindustries.com
Personal: http://www.nanogirl.com/index2.html
Foresight Senior Associate http://www.foresight.org
Nanotechnology Advisor Extropy Institute  http://www.extropy.org
My New Project: Microscope Jewelry
http://www.nanogirl.com/crafts/microjewelry.htm
Email: 
"Nanotechnology: Solutions for the future."


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