Nanotechnology News – Latest Headlines

Clues to how plants form cell walls could aid biofuels, nanotechnology

When plant cells divide, they assemble molecular building blocks into new cell walls made of carbohydrate and protein, but scientists know almost nothing about how this process occurs. A team of researchers including Maura Cannon of the University of Massachusetts Amherst has found that the first step in building new plant cell walls is the assembly of a scaffold made of structural proteins, a process similar to using a metal or wood scaffold to construct the walls of a building.

February 27, 2008 Read more

'2-faced' particles act like tiny submarines

For the first time, researchers at North Carolina State University have demonstrated that microscopic 'two-faced' spheres whose halves are physically or chemically different - so-called Janus particles - will move like stealthy submarines when an alternating electrical field is applied to liquid surrounding the particles.

February 27, 2008 Read more

The future of universal water: new study highlights water purification technology

The DC-based research and consulting firm Social Technologies recently released a series of 12 briefs that shed light on the top areas for technology innovation through 2025. The brief on universal water, by futurist Peter von Stackelberg, is the eighth trend in the series.

February 27, 2008 Read more

FDA-ANH nanotechnology initiative scientific workshop

The Alliance for NanoHealth (ANH) and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) are co-sponsoring a scientific workshop being held in Houston, Texas on March 10-12th, 2008.

February 27, 2008 Read more

ACerS, AIST, ASM, TMS issue call for papers for Materials Science & Technology 2008

A call for abstracts has been issued for Materials Science & Technology (MS&T '08), the leading forum addressing structure, properties, processing and performance throughout the global materials community.

February 27, 2008 Read more

Researchers solve decade-old mystery of titanium's role in hydrogen storage

Their findings could lead to the production of environmentally friendly hydrogen gas fueled vehicles.

February 27, 2008 Read more

Maryland bill would spur bio-nanotechnology

Hoping to turn the science of the extremely small into a huge payoff down the road, Maryland lawmakers introduced legislation Tuesday to create a fund to coordinate efforts to develop what's known as bio-nanotechnology.

February 26, 2008 Read more

Nanoemulsion vaccines show increasing promise

A novel technique for vaccinating against a variety of infectious diseases - using an oil-based emulsion placed in the nose, rather than needles - has proved able to produce a strong immune response against smallpox and HIV in two new studies.

February 26, 2008 Read more

Recent developments in nanotechnology showcased at INNO.08 in Montreal

INNO.08 is the first and most wide-ranging innovation conference to ever take place in Montreal: 7 conferences under one roof spanning only 3 days - April 21-23, 2008. What are the health and safety risks posed by nanoparticles exposure? What means of prevention are available? How are researchers and preventionists involved? What is the state of Canadian standardization? Speakers, including an international leading expert, will inform you about the most recent developments in nanotechnology while addressing the issues identify above. Moreover, the first Quebec Guide of Good Practices for the Safe Handling of Nanoparticles will be presented during the symposium.

February 26, 2008 Read more

Saudi research organisation creates Nanotechnology Centre with IBM to drive innovation in sustainable resources

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, the Saudi Arabian national research and development organisation, today announced it is establishing a Nanotechnology Centre of Excellence, in association with IBM Research, to seek key innovations, and explore and develop breakthroughs in applying molecular-scale engineering to critical energy and sustainable resource issues.

February 26, 2008 Read more

Federal toxics disclosure law could help inform public of nanotechnology risks

The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) is releasing a first-time legal analysis that finds a key federal toxics reporting statute could be applied to production and commercialization of nanotechnology, providing the public with more information about these revolutionary - yet still potentially risky - technologies.

February 26, 2008 Read more

A major research project on bionanotechnology starts at Chinese Academy of Sciences

Funded by the National Basic Research Program, a research project on the in-situ real-time nano-testing and characterization of single biomolecules and cells has recently been launched at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Institute of Chemistry.

February 26, 2008 Read more

Mannequins discover nanotechnology

German mannequin manufacturer EuroDisplay is borrowing the nanotechnology applications used for motor vehicle paint finishes to make mannequins with durable surfaces and long-lasting skin tones. Called NanoFinish, the new product was unveiled at EuroShop this week.

February 25, 2008 Read more

Nanopores that can recognize, separate proteins and small molecules

Nanopores, holes less than one-thousand the width of a human hair, are capable of isolating strands of DNA or therapeutic drugs from a solution, based mostly on the size of the pores. Now, a chemist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has created nanopores that can recognize and interact with certain molecules, actively controlling their movement across synthetic membranes.

February 25, 2008 Read more

Silica smart bombs deliver knock-out to bacteria

Bacteria mutate for a living, evading antibiotic drugs while killing tens of thousands of people in the United States each year. But as concern about drug-resistant bacteria grows, one novel approach under way at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks to thwart the bug without a drug by taking a cue from nature.

February 25, 2008 Read more

Novel implants for neurodegenerative disease: technology promises, clinical challenges

The Frontiers Network of Excellence (in conjunction with IMEC and NanoNed) are pleased to announce a unique event. On April 7, 2008, IMEC (www.imec.be) will host a 1-day interactive event: Novel Implants for Neurodegenerative Disease: Technology Promises, Clinical Challenges

February 25, 2008 Read more