The use of design concepts adapted from nature is a promising new route to the development of advanced materials. There are quite a number of terms such as biomimetics, biognosis, biomimicry, or even 'bionical creativity engineering' that refer to more or less the same thing: the application of methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology. And increasingly, nanotechnology researchers find naturally occurring nanostructures a useful inspiration for overcoming their design and fabrication challenges. Because biological structures are the result of millennia of evolution, their designs possess many unique merits that would be difficult to achieve by a completely artificial simulation. By replicating the eye of a fruit fly, researchers have now demonstrated a highly reliable and low-cost technique for making inorganic replicas of biotemplates for fabricating complex nanostructures with biologically inspired functionality.

New-media art installations that caution visitors about a future when books are relics of the past, and nanoparticles represent a pervasive threat to human health, will be on display starting August 4 on the campus of the University of California, San Diego.

Recent progress in dye-sensitized solar cells research and development, which use innovative light-harvesting dye to improve the optical absorption coefficient of the stained nanostructured electrodes, might color our dimming future energy security with a tint of rose, despite the looming depletion of fossil fuels.

Much is being written about nanotechnology's role in vastly improving the detection and treatment of cancer. Detection of cancer at the earliest stage provides the greatest chance of survival. Unfortunately, cancer has a logarithmic growth rate. A one cubic centimeter size tumor may have 40-50 cell divisions and typically doctors don't see 80% of the life of a tumor. The detection of a protein pattern in blood serum can be helpful in evidencing a possible presence of cancer at an early stage. The problem is that 'early' means the capability of detecting very few molecules in dilute conditions. Now, in another step to improve the design and fabrication of devices for single molecule detection, new research has demonstrated an experimental capability of detecting down to as few as 10 organic molecules deposited on a quantum dot.

Today, Applied Materials held a groundbreaking for an expansion project of its Tainan Manufacturing Center. This expansion, with a total investment estimated at around US$17 million, will increase the company?s ability to meet the demand for both its AKT flat panel display equipment and SunFab Thin Film Solar manufacturing equipment.

Former EPA official highlights shortcomings of current federal oversight.

Nanotechnology company enters into a strategic supply chain agreement in preparation for mass-fabrication of its products.

On March 4 - 6, 2009, international experts will gather in Berlin for the NanoMed 2009 conference to discuss the state of the art in medical applications of nanotechnology.

A small United Arab Emirates-based company owned by an Indian, that produces raw materials for the paint industry, is among this year's list of winners of a top nanotechnology award by NASA.

Researcher at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research discovers defence strategies used by biofilm bacteria.

Companies and institutes such as NanoFocus, Kugler, Matsushita Electric Works, Olympus and the new Fraunhofer Research Institution for Electronic Nano Systems present latest micro- and nanotechnology applications for production.

The patent covers three main methods of associating nanoparticles with filter media: (1) having pellets of nanoparticles located adjacent to the filter media; (2) coating the filter media with a powder of nanoparticles; and, (3) impregnating the nanoparticles into the filter media.

NanoBioNet, the pre-eminent center of excellence for nanobiotechnology in Germany, is acting as representative of the leading German technology at Nano Korea 2008, the 6th International Nanotech Symposium and Exhibition in Korea.

The National Nanotoxicology Research Centre (NNRC) is being developed at the UK Health Protection Agency's Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (CRCE) at Chilton in Oxfordshire.

Carbon nanotubes with nanoscopic paraffin coating form superhydrophobic, self-cleaning surfaces.

In einem Lasergitter mit quasikristalliner Struktur haben Physiker eine Monolage von Kolloidteilchen gefangen. Welches Muster die Teilchen dabei formten, hing von der Staerke des Lichtgitters ab.

Researchers have overcome a major obstacle in producing transistors from networks of carbon nanotubes, a technology that could make it possible to print circuits on plastic sheets for applications including flexible displays and an electronic skin to cover an entire aircraft to monitor crack formation.

This achievement may pave the way for the application of graphene to VLSI.

Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a technique to measure the formation of clumps of proteins in protein-based pharmaceuticals.

Titanium, a protean element with applications from pigments to aerospace alloys, could get a new role as an environmentally friendly additive for automotive oil, thanks to work by materials scientists from Afton Chemical Corporation (Richmond, Va.) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

One term you hear quite often in discussion about the potential risks of nanotechnology is 'precautionary principle'. This moral and political principle, as commonly defined, states that if an action or policy might cause severe or irreversible harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of a scientific consensus that harm would not ensue, the burden of proof falls on those who would advocate taking the action. The principle aims to provide guidance for protecting public health and the environment in the face of uncertain risks, stating that the absence of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason to postpone measures where there is a risk of serious or irreversible harm to public health or the environment. In 2001, an expert panel commissioned by the European Environment Agency (EEA) published a report, Late Lessons from Early Warnings: The Precautionary Principle 1896?2000, which explored 14 case studies, all of which demonstrated how not heeding early warnings had led to a failure to protect human health and the environment. It looked at controversial topics such as asbestos, Mad Cow Disease, growth hormones, PCBs and radiation ? all of which demonstrated how not heeding early warnings had led to a failure to protect human health and the environment. The expert group that compiled the EEA report identified 12 'late lessons' on how to avoid past mistakes as new technologies are developed. These lessons bear an uncanny resemblance to many of the concerns now being raised about various forms of nanotechnology.

As a leading international platform in the area of nanotechnology safety and regulation, the conference will offer a forum to discuss this year?s topic of 'Voluntary Measures in Nano Risk Governance' (such as Voluntary Reporting Schemes, Codes of Conduct, Risk management systems etc.).

Dr. Martin Moskovits, API's Chief Technology Officer, was honored as a Nano 50 Innovator and API's SubWave UV Polarizers were honored with a Nano 50 product award.

The GKSS Research Center in Geesthacht is coordinating a European project for the development of new plastics.

Grant to identify and analyze nanomedicine prototypes for treating allergies and other inflammatory diseases.

mPhase Technologies, Inc. today announced that Dr. Fred Allen, President and CEO of its AlwaysReady Inc. subsidiary, presented the company's breakthrough Smart Nanobattery technology at the Nano Renewable Energy Summit held in Denver, Colorado from July 20-22, 2008.

Wie die Ergebnisse der Grundlagenforschung schneller in neue Anwendungen umgesetzt werden koennen, stellen Ihnen die Praesidenten an einem aktuellen bayerischen Projekt vor.

Nanotechnology will soon allow people to have their blood plasma cleaned relatively inexpensively, the head of Russia's Nanotechnology Corporation told his American partners during a visit to the United States.

Revolutionary device will reveal internal structure of rock samples to aid exploitation.

New contract from an ambitious R+D program funded by Spain?s government to address local and international energy solutions.

G-branded products now available in New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands, South East Asia and the United Arab Emirates.

US scientists have made a nanoscale mass sensor which can weigh molecules with atomic precision.

Research scientists at Columbia University?s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science have achieved a breakthrough by proving that the carbon material graphene is the strongest material ever measured.

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a technique that has the potential to deliver cancer-fighting drugs to diseased areas within hours, as opposed to the two days it currently takes for existing delivery systems.

Sandia National Laboratories will demonstrate a new hyperspectral confocal fluorescence microscope Friday, Aug. 8 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. MDT in Bldg. 897 on Kirtland Air Force Base.