Kristin has authored the following posts:
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The Power of Ten
We sometimes struggle to effectively describe the nanoscale world. Here is an animation from Molecular Expressions at the Florida State Univeristy that takes you in leaps of powers of ten from light years to 100 attometers (that’s 10-16 metres). What I found most interesting is how familiar everything looks until you reach the nanometre scale. [...]
Filed in Learning, Public Awareness | 16 Jul 2007 | no comments -
Better than a gecko
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York and the University of Akron - Ohio, have created synthetic “gecko tape” (see news article pointed out by the Foresight Nanotech Institute). The team manufactured a polymer surface covered in carbon nanotubes that imitate the microscopic hairs on a gecko’s footpad. These work by forming [...]
Filed in Learning, Nanomaterials | 28 Jun 2007 | no comments -
Nano Risk Framework
When I was at the NSTI Nanotech 2007 conference in late May, I listened to Caroline Baier-Anderson from Environmental Defense present the risk framework for nanotechnology that was developed in partnership with DuPont. The framework provides a process for the evaulation of environmental, health and safety risks with regards to the development of nanotechnology products. Environmental Defense [...]
Filed in Environment, Health, Nanomaterials, Social Impacts | 26 Jun 2007 | one comment -
Nanospheres for Tumours
The New Scientist reports on the efforts of Andre Godin and Prof Jennfier West at Rice University who have used gold nanospheres for both cancer treatment and imaging mechanisms. The gold-coated silica nanospheres are injected into the bloodstream and then accumulate at tumour sites where the blood vessels are leakier. The tumour site is illuminated [...]
Filed in Biotechnology, Health | 26 Jun 2007 | no comments -
More SHINE
Peter Binks, Francesca Calati and Amanda Clarke from St Helena Secondary College and myself will be presenting during the Education and Workforce Development Session for COMS 2007 in September in Melbourne. We will be discussing how the St Helena Innovative Nanotechnology Education (SHINE) program moved from an idea to be a fully integrated program at the school, [...]
Filed in Learning, Public Awareness | 20 Jun 2007 | no comments -
On The Edge!
We have written before about the nanotechnology that makes up switchable glass and how this technology by iGlass has been incorprated into the Eureka SkyDeck on the 88th floor. Well, I can now report that Larry Jordan and I have braved and survived The Edge (unlike a certain CEO who found a very important meeting [...]
Filed in Nanomaterials | 14 Jun 2007 | one comment -
Last Report from Nanotech 2007
The NSTI Nanotech 2007 conference finishes today. I will be presenting on the St Helena nano program SHINE this afternoon, one of very few education papers. The conference has addressed research developments in bionano and health, water, materials development (especially carbon nantoubes and soft nano), and the Cleantech 2007 event has provided an excellent overiew of [...]
Filed in Biotechnology, Consumer Products, Health, Nanomaterials, Water | 25 May 2007 | no comments -
Nanotech 2007 - News for Cancer
Dr Anna Barker from the National Cancer Institute spoke yesterday on the ‘Promise of Nanotechnology in Cancer’ at the NSTI Nanotech 2007 Conference. She concentrated on the three main areas in which nanotechnology could play a part in addressing cancer - early detection, improving imaging techniques for diagnosis and better drug delivery. While suggesting that the [...]
Filed in Biotechnology, Health | 24 May 2007 | no comments -
Jessica loves nano
US Today (Life Section D) quotes Jessica Alba: “It’s dorky, but I like [reading sciencedaily.com]. Nanotechnology blows my mind.” Jessica Alba as a poster child for the wonders of nanotechnology? We could do worse!
Filed in Public Awareness | 23 May 2007 | one comment -
NSTI Nanotech 2007
I am currently at NSTI Nanotech 2007 in California, a nanotechnology conference and exhibition with over 3000 attendees and 1000 papers. It is difficult to know what to attend, but the highlight for me yesterday was a panel session on the environmental and societal aspects of nanotechnology. We have highlighted the AZoNano and NanoVic podcast on [...]
Filed in Learning, Nanomaterials, Social Impacts | 22 May 2007 | no comments