Nanotech National & International News

Nanotech Startups to Have Big Oil’s Back
April 7th, 2008 -- Whether you believe that the world’s oil production has peaked yet or not, Big Oil is certainly looking for ways to extend the life of its current reserves. And a report out this morning from the folks at Lux Research says nanotechnology startups will be crucial to providing technology to help oil and gas firms find new reserves and get more out of existing ones. (more)

Taking the NanoPulse -- American nano success stories take center stage in Washington, D.C.
April 2, 2008 -- Remember the movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington? Jimmy Stewart plays a guy from the heartland who opens the eyes of Washington insiders to good, fundamental ideas. Well, update the image a little, and put a three dozen smart nanotechnologists from the American heartland on Capitol Hill sharing real-world nanotechnology successes with our legislators and administration. Now you've got a breakthrough plotline. (more)

Solar Energy Technologies: What's in Store
March 7, 2008 - According to the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, the number of states that have adopted renewable portfolio standards stands at 26, with more states poised to jump on the bandwagon. These mandates require electric utilities to provide a percentage of their power from renewable sources like solar and wind. The mandates, accompanied by government subsidies and incentives, have companies scrambling to develop low-cost, highly efficient products to meet the demand for alternative energy sources. Three organizations hope to cash in on the green movement by developing new technologies -- technologies that may redefine the solar energy industry. (more)

Nanotech companies pushing Congress to spring for research
Backers say tiny particles can pay off in medicine, ecological technology
March 3, 2008 - Lawmakers are expected to get down to the nitty gritty. But lately, they've been focusing on the tiniest forms of matter - the subject of nanotechnology.

Roughly two dozen nanotechnology companies and other experts came to Capitol Hill last week to show off their wares and send Congress a message: Nanotechnology is about a whole lot more than computer chips. (more)

Two-thirds of Americans think nanotechnology is morally unacceptable -- wait, what?
February 20, 2008 - Given the fact that most of the nanotech developments we've seen have to do with making smaller transistors or generating electricity, we're not exactly sure why a recent study conducted by the researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that two-thirds of American think nanotechnology is "morally unacceptable" -- perhaps they didn't hear about that team that used nanotech to inscribe the Bible on the head of a pin? Overall, Americans were far less accepting of pint-size technology than other countries -- 72 percent of French respondents thought nanotech was morally okay, as did 54 percent of the UK residents polled and 62 percent of the Germans. Still, we're left wondering why anyone would find a reason to object to nanotechnology -- unlike biotech, we just don't see a lot of moral dilemmas posed by the research. Well, apart from that whole gray goo thing -- but if that's the risk we have to take to finally score a pair of electric pants, you can sign us right up. (more)

Taking The NanoPulse - Wall Street Nano vs. Main Street Nano
February 18, 2008 - Wham! Did you hear that? It's the door slamming on Wall Street. I think it's no secret that we're in for a rough patch in the global economy, and it's already taking its toll on the nano-innovation market. There's simply not much patience for the long-range. Venture capitalists and investment bankers are looking for higher ground, and it's leaving some nano-entrepreneurs in deep water. In fact, some predictions suggest nanotechnology is in a trough that won't return to boom until 2011. There's even talk of Congress cutting back on nano support in the face of bigger economic issues. (more)

Scientists Scan Striking Nanoscale Images
February 15, 2008 - For the first time, late last year, a team of British scientists filmed the nanoscale interaction of an attacking virus with an enzyme and a DNA strand in real time.

This was the latest breakthrough in the advancement of scanning probe microscopes -- the family of nonoptical microscopes researchers use to create striking images through raster scans of individual atoms. (more)

Remarkable New Clothing May Someday Power Your iPod®
February 13, 2008 - Nanotechnology researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are developing a shirt that harvests energy from the wearer's physical motion and converts it into electricity for powering small electronic devices worn by soldiers in the field, hikers and other users.

The research, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and described in the Feb. 14 issue of Nature, details how pairs of textile fibers covered with zinc oxide nanowires generate electricity in response to applied mechanical stress. Known as "the piezoelectric effect," the resulting current flow from many fiber pairs woven into a shirt or jacket could allow the wearer's body movement to power a range of portable electronic devices. The fibers could also be woven into curtains, tents or other structures to capture energy from wind motion, sound vibration or other mechanical energy. (more)