Center for Nanotechnology in Society
University of California, Santa Barbara
www.cns.ucsb.edu
WEEKLY CLIPS
May 21 - 29, 2007
Weekly Clips from CNS-UCSB are now available online:
http://www.cns.ucsb.edu/clips/
May 23, 2007
Study urges nanotech regulatory oversight
WASHINGTON, DC -- A study released this week called for immediate regulatory
oversight of nanotechnology by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The report, commissioned by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
and The Pew Charitable Trusts, said an adequate oversight system is necessary to
identify and minimize any adverse health or environmental effects of nano materials
and products.
In the report, the former EPA assistant administrator for policy, planning and
evaluation, J. Clarence Davies, lists more than 25 steps the EPA, Congress, the
president, the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative and the nanotechnology
industry as a whole should take to improve the oversight of nanotechnology.
http://science.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1308334.php/Study_urges_na
notech_regulatory_oversight
May 23, 2007
German Occupational Safety and Health Strategy
addresses nanoparticles
The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) in Germany is
concerned with all matters of safety and health at work. As part of their role to offer
advice and practical assistance to companies, government, the social partners and
the general public, BAuA released a 65-page Working Programme 2007-2010.
In it, BAuA outlines 10 objectives and 45 strategic focal points as part of its
comprehensive approach to safety and health at work. With regard to
nanotechnology at the work place the programme states that the risks to employees
who handle nanoparticles at their workplace is largely unknown.
http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=1977.php
May 25, 2007
Research and Markets: Current Applications of
Nanotechnologies will Result in a Global Annual
Saving of 8,000 Tons of Carbon Dioxide in 2007
"Nanotechnologies for Sustainable Energy: Reducing Carbon Emissions through
Clean Technologies and Renewable Energy Sources" examines the impact of
nanotechnology on the quest for sustainable energy.
Through a detailed analysis of technologies both currently available and under
development the report concludes that:
- The major near-term benefit of nanotechnologies will be in reducing weight in the
transportation sector with nanocomposite materials quickly diffusing across the
automotive and aerospace industries
- Over the next seven years, highest growth opportunities will come from the
application of nanomaterials to making better use of existing resources rather than
generating new forms of renewable energy…
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2007/05/25/2663315.htm
May 22, 2007
Nanotechnology and the environment: beauty
rather than beast?
Much has been said about the potential of nanotechnologies to revolutionise the way
we live, with the biggest changes forecasted to take place in materials, surveillance
and healthcare. The accompanying discussions on the possible side effects of
working at the nanoscale may suggest to the casual observer that the environment
will be a loser in the nano-revolution. Not so, according to scientists investigating
environmental nanotechnology.
But scientists working in the comparatively unknown field of environmental
nanotechnology argue that working at the nanoscale does not have to be to the
detriment of the environment. Studies have shown that nanotechnologies can be
used to not only monitor and prevent pollution, but to clean up pollutants once they
have already made their way into the environment.
http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&SESSION=&RCN=27
711
May 25, 2007
Nanotechnology may offer solutions to climate
change
Efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions have primarily been focused on the macro
world, such as cleaning up power plant emissions and encouraging consumers to
switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, but global consulting company Frost &
Sullivan said this week that nanotechnology could also be used in the battle against
climate change.
Frost & Sullivan quoted a study by Oakdene Hollins, which the UK’s Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) commissioned to look at areas where
nanotechnology could have “a beneficial environmental impact above current
technology and the barriers preventing its adoption”.
The report looked at five areas where nanotechnology could be helpful, which
included the areas of fuel additives, solar cells, the hydrogen economy, batteries and
supercapacitors, and insulation.
http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=109859
May 22, 2007
Huge Things Planned for Nanotechnology in
Australia
A $21.5 million (US$17.8 million) to establish the National
Nanotechnology Strategy
SANTA CLARA, Calif -- Australia's nanotechnology is expecting further growth with the
establishment of a $21.5 million (US$17.8 million) National Nanotechnology
Strategy, announced by Prime Minister John Howard and Industry Minister Ian
Macfarlane.
The four year strategy is part of the Australian Government's $1.4 billion Industry
Statement which also includes tax breaks for R&D investors by extending eligibility
for the 175% R&D tax concession.
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view
&newsId=20070522006568&newsLang=en
May 24, 2007
St Petersburg University to open first nanotech
center in '08
ST PETERSBURG, May 24 (Itar-Tass) - St Petersburg State University (SPSU) is to
inaugurate Russia's first Center for Nano-Scale Technologies, Professor Igor
Gorlinsky, Director of the Project, and Pro-Rector for Research, told Itar-Tass here on
Thursday.
The overall cost of the project is estimated at 130 million roubles. Speaking of the
key tasks of the Center, the scientist singled out "the systematization of work in the
field of new materials".
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11559828&PageNum=0
May 28, 2007
Nanotechnology gains ground in CR
The emerging nanotechnology field is gaining ground in the Czech Republic with
successes reported by local researchers and the commercial sector.
To ensure continued development in the new science, VŠB–Technical University of
Ostrava (VŠB-TU), North Moravia, is launching the first program in nanotechnology in
the Czech Republic, and other universities are also starting courses.
…He added that it’s hard to find a strong industrial partner for development of
nanotechnology applications in the market in the Czech Republic. There’s a general
lack of venture capital available for nanotechnology research in Europe compared to
the United States, he said. One of the most visible Czech companies in the
nanotechnology field is the nanofiber technology specialist Elmarco, which
announced in May its intention to build a new center for the development and
production of nanofibres.
http://www.cbw.cz/phprs/2007052801.html
May 22, 2007
Secure public spaces via nanotechnology sensors
A new European project is set to improve security for travellers using European
airports and other large public spaces.
The project will develop sensors capable of detecting a wide range of toxic agents
which could be used in chemical, biological or terrorist attack. The system will provide
early warning of the presence of explosive materials and, in the case of airborne
toxins, will be able to extract and decontaminate the air supply. The system will be
designed for use at airports and other public spaces.
The project is based on nano-scale biosensor technology recently developed at
Bangor University. The technology is capable of detecting the presence of explosives
by detecting minuscule airborne particles given off by the explosive materials. (To
levels of parts per trillion in air).
http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=1967.php
May 22, 2007
Analyzing nanoparticle levels in blood
With the race to develop nanoparticle-based therapeutics and imaging agents for
cancer applications moving at full speed, a small but growing group of researchers is
quietly developing the methods that are needed to fully characterize a wide variety of
nanoscale materials and then detect and quantify their presence in blood and other
human tissues. One such effort, headed by King Chan, Ph.D., of the National Cancer
Institute, and Anil Patri, Ph.D., of the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory,
has now developed a straightforward method for analyzing two types of fullerene
nanoparticle.
http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=1970.php
May 24, 2007
New Protocols Released Helps Physicians Use
Nanotechnology in Cancer Research
Laboratory physicians can now use bioconjugated quantum dots to identify and track
molecular biomarkers in cancer tissue, according to researchers from Emory
University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. The scientists, led by Shuming
Nie, Ph.D. of Emory University, developed specific protocols for using the luminescent
nanoparticles including procedures for antibody conjugation, preparation of tissue
specimens, multicolor quantum staining, imaging processing, and biomarker
quantification.
http://www.cemag.us/News_Articles.asp?pid=176
May 27, 2007
Don't waste nanosecond on Altair
Dear Mr. Berko: I want to invest in a small company that specializes in
nanotechnology because I think this is the wave of the future. I'm told of a company
called Altair Nanotechnologies that is, according to research given to me by my
broker, on the cutting edge of many new products. I would like to buy 20,000 shares
of Altair at $3.90 because it seems to have excellent promise according to WR
Hambrecht's research. Hambrecht, as you know is that big New York Stock Exchange
firm which was very active during the tech stock market and people made big money
following their recommendations. Hambrecht's people believe that Altair's revenue
will grow tenfold this year and that the company will finally make a profit. Hambrecht
is a NYSE member so their research certainly must meet sound standards. I would
like your thoughts on this stock, which would also give me an added level of comfort
before I invest $39,000.
http://newsok.com/article/3058966
May 25, 2007
1st Annual Nanotechnology Digital Art Contest
winners announced
…In order to assist high school students think about the future with nanotechnology,
Clarion University’s Nanotechnology Program and Art Department sponsored the
digital art contest with a theme, “Nanotechnology and the Environment.”
…The contest asked students to digitally illustrate what they think the future of
nanotechnology and the environment hold. Pearce and Jim Rose, assistant professor
of art, selected the winners.
http://news.clarion.edu/News/173.html
May 22, 2007
Communicating Science to the World - Winners of
N2L Writing Contest
Non experts are eager to learn about new technical, medical, and biological
challenges. This is being proved almost daily by numerous popular scientific
contributions on TV as well as in print and electronic media. For this reason
Nano2Life's education board identified the communication of science with the World
around us as a task for researchers that must not be underestimated. Therefore a
new award was added to the panel of Nano2Life's contests this year in the attempt to
educate the general public about Nanobiotechnology. Young scientists were asked to
submit an article outlining their research focus in a manner appealing to the general
public.
The winner's articles deal with cutting-edge research subjects: stem cell research,
Parkinson's Disease and Exploring new environments: cells on surfaces.
http://www.nano2life.de/news.php?nid=32
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