Using enzymes from E. coli bacteria, Duke University chemists and engineers have introduced a hundred-fold improvement in the precision of features imprinted to create microdevices such as labs-on-a-chip. Their inkless microcontact printing technique can imprint details measuring close to 1 nanometer, or billionths of a meter, the Duke team reported in the Sept. 24, 2007 …
The Register discusses the CRN conference, where I was one of the presenters I need to correct some misunderstanding from a lack of clarity in one of my presentation slides. Register person had stated I was saying molecular manufacturing would happen in 2015. My prediction for a nanofactory level of capability in molecular manufacturing is …
The USA is threatening 27% tariffs against China to force China to more quickly raise the value of the Yuan by 15 to 40% This supports my thesis that China’s economy will the pass the USA by 2020 15% appreciation in the yuan would move it from 7.6 to 1 US dollar to 6.6 to …
Physicists at the University of Pittsburgh have demonstrated a new form of matter that melds the characteristics of lasers with those of the world’s best electrical conductors – superconductors. This is another example of more than one new state of matter being created every year The most familiar examples of states of matter are solids, …
The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology talks about an interesting project that Zyvex has planned. They will create nanostructures with elements of molecular precision. This will help enable more powerful capabilities for controlling structures. The plans are to use silicon and silicon carbide and possibly other materials and created connected layers. Brian WangBrian Wang is a …
Loss of only one of the genes, a gene encoding the protein PHA-4, negated the lifespan-enhancing effect of calorie-restriction in worms. And, when researchers undertook the opposite experiment—by overexpressing pha-4 in worms—the longevity effect was enhanced. “PHA-4 acts completely independent of insulin/IGF-1 signaling and turns out to be essential for CR-mediated longevity,” says Panowski. “We …
An optical microscope image of a yeast cell (the round feature to the right) on top of the micron-sized detector used in the studies. The image is blurred because the cell is so small that large magnification is required in order to obtain the image. (Credit: Image courtesy of Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) …
A tethered airship wind power system could tap into more consistent and more accessible winds at the 270 meter / 1000 foot level. This would increase capacity load to 40-50% and allow placement closer to population centers but 5 miles away from airports due to air traffic rules. They are producing a prototype 4 kilowatt …
Scientists at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have shown that tiny polymer nanofibers become much stronger when their diameters shrink below a certain size. Their research, published in the January issue of Nature Nanotechnology, could make possible stronger fabrics that use less material. Professor Eyal Zussman and Dr. Oleg Gendelman of the Faculty of Mechanical …
From Biosingularity, and Canada’s National post, word of breakthrough near cure for diabetes In a discovery that has stunned even those behind it, scientists at a Toronto hospital say they have proof the body’s nervous system helps trigger diabetes, opening the door to a potential near-cure of the disease that affects millions of Canadians. The …