Jeanette has authored the following posts:
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NanoFibers for Nerve Fibers
A new material has been developed that has been shown to heal spinal cord injuries in mice. The work has recently been published in the Journal of Neuroscience by Professor Samuel Stupp and his group at Northwestern University and describes a liquid material, which contains molecules that self-assemble into hollow, cylindrical nanofibers in vivo. These [...]
Filed in Biotechnology, Nanomaterials | 10 Apr 2008 | no comments -
Tata Nano - The People’s Car
Tata Motors - the automotive component of India-based Tata Group, recently unveiled it’s latest gem - the Tata Nano. The tiny 5-door car, which is being dubbed “The People’s Car“, costs the equivalent of A$3000, which Tata believes will help them to further expand their market to countries in the developing world. Despite major technological advances being [...]
Filed in Consumer Products, Marketing | 18 Jan 2008 | one comment -
Nano-Enabled Sensors
Dr Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh and Dr Benjamin Fry, both Senior Lecturers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, have recently released a book entitled “Nanotechnology-Enabled Sensors” through US publishers Springer. The book covers an extensive range of topics, and is aimed towards students and researchers who are interested in conducting research in the field of nanotechnology-enabled sensing [...]
Filed in Consumer Products, Learning | 13 Nov 2007 | no comments -
For Women in Science
A colleague and I recently attended an award ceremony in Melbourne, which was held to announce the winners of the Australian L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowships. Four women were each awarded $20,000, in order to further develop their own particular scientific research interests. The technical fields represented by the four winners displayed [...]
Filed in Marketing, Social Impacts | 11 Sep 2007 | no comments -
Geckos Inspire Levitation!
The unique manner in which Gecko’s can stick themselves to surfaces is often discussed in relation to nanotechnology, with the mechanism being a function of Casimir Forces arising from quantum-mechanical effects. Scientists in the UK are now using the same principle but in reverse, which can cause objects to levitate rather than stick together! Professor Ulf Leonhardt [...]
Filed in Electronics | 08 Aug 2007 | no comments -
Exhibition Success!
In a previous post, I gave details about an upcoming Needle and Syringe Cultures Exhibition being organised by the Centre for Health and Society at the University of Melbourne. The Exhibition has now been running for 9 days and has been a great success! The opening was performed on 18th July by Professor Vjoletta Braach-Maksvytis, DVC Innovation and Development at the University [...]
Filed in Health, Learning, Public Awareness, Social Impacts | 27 Jul 2007 | one comment -
Happy Nano-Birthday!
When chemist Fraser Stoddart recently celebrated his 65th birthday at “The Young(ish) Giants of Chemistry” conference in Edinburgh, UK, he might have been surprised to discover that one of his gifts was an original portrait of himself. However, this wasn’t any normal portrait - this was a portrait so small you need a microscope to see it! The 20 micrometre-sized work [...]
Filed in People Profiles, The Arts | 19 Jun 2007 | no comments -
A Recipe for Tumour Destruction
The clinical potential of curcumin, which is a component of the ingredient turmeric commonly used in Indian cooking, has been widely investigated, in particular for tumour destruction and clearance of plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease. However, due to its hydrophobic nature, the use of curcumin for disease treatment in humans has been somewhat limited as it is not [...]
Filed in Biotechnology, Health | 14 Jun 2007 | no comments -
Syringe Exhibition
When asked how they feel about needles and syringes, most people’s reaction is one of horror or alarm… or so you would think. An Exhibition being hosted by the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Health and Society is aiming to challenge the way the public thinks about needles and syringes by providing insights into the diversity of possible applications of these devices. Associate Dean [...]
Filed in Health, Public Awareness, Social Impacts | 07 Jun 2007 | no comments -
Will Nano give you a Head for Heights?
We frequently see the use of nanotechnology in fabrics, often to provide antibacterial, stain- and water-resistant properties. However, while recently considering whether to register for the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, I discovered that nanotechnology is also helping climbers reach their summit! Elbeco have incorporated NANO-DRY™ technology into their Tex-Trop™ polyester-based suits, which wick [...]
Filed in Consumer Products | 13 Dec 2006 | no comments