Science and nature appear to be very much linked and this project is just another example of nature showing us the way. The MURI project being undertaken by researchers from academia and the Air Force Research Laboratory, is focused on a revolutionary new paradigm for fabricating micro/nano devices. To do this they need to be able to generate enormous numbers of identical Genetically-Engineered Micro/nanodevices (GEM’s) with tailored 3-D shapes, fine features and chemistries. Up until now, 2-D techniques have been used but in order to enable low-cost mass production of micro/nanodevices with complex (non-planar) shapes new 3-D methods are needed. These devices would then be used for aircraft, biomedical, telecommunications, automotive just to name a few industries.Nature already provides this approach via aquatic organisms known as diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) which form microshells comprised of silica nanoparticles that are self-assembled into fantastic looking 3-D shapes. What I particularly liked were the beautiful shapes created - once again it appears that nature is showing us the way.
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