Nanotechnology News - October 2008 Archives

Nanoscale dimensioning is fast, cheap with new optical technique (10/31/2008)

A novel technique under development uses a relatively inexpensive optical microscope to quickly and cheaply analyze nanoscale dimensions with nanoscale measurement sensitivity. ...> Full Article

Progress toward new storage media (10/29/2008)

Switchable nanostripes: Spin-transition compound can be deposited in ordered crystalline microstructures ...> Full Article

Gold nanostars outshine the competition (10/29/2008)

Gold nanostars exhibit optical qualities that make them superior for chemical and biological sensing and imaging. ...> Full Article

New molecules with many branches will help unleash potential of nanotechnology (10/26/2008)

Materials science and the pharmaceutical industry could soon be revolutionized by emerging nanotechnologies based on designer molecules with long complex tree-and branch structures ...> Full Article

'Stamping' self-assembling nanowires (10/25/2008)

By manipulating the way tiny droplets of fluid dry, researchers have created an innovative way to make and pattern nanoscale wires and other devices that ordinarily can be made only with expensive lithographic tools. The process is guided by molds that "stamp" the desired structures. ...> Full Article

Researchers find nanomaterials may have large environmental footprint (10/24/2008)

Environmental gains derived from the use of nanomaterials may be offset in part by the process used to manufacture them ...> Full Article

Self-assembling nano-fiber gel delivers high concentrations of clinically approved drugs (10/23/2008)

Enzymes release drugs on target without toxic residue ...> Full Article

Engineering Nanoparticles for Maximum Strength (10/22/2008)

Individual nanocrystals are remarkably strong. But under stress, complex nanostructures quickly fail because of internal strains. New research on hollow nanospheres shows that engineering can greatly increase the strength of complex nanoparticles. The results could lead to stronger nanostructures and large-scale alloys as well. ...> Full Article

Nanoscale coating protect products - and the economy (10/21/2008)

Researcher creates smart coatings that fortify materials ...> Full Article

Researchers Write Protein Nanoarrays Using a Fountain Pen and Electric Fields (10/19/2008)

Team of researchers have demonstrated the ability to rapidly write nanoscale protein arrays using a tool they call the nanofountain probe. ...> Full Article

New Nano Institute Established at the University of Utah (10/18/2008)

State's big stake in small science takes giant step forward ...> Full Article

'Buckyballs' have high potential to accumulate in living tissue (10/17/2008)

Research suggests synthetic carbon molecules called fullerenes, or buckyballs, have a high potential of being accumulated in animal tissue, but the molecules also appear to break down in sunlight, perhaps reducing their possible environmental dangers. ...> Full Article

Researchers Use Nanowires to Develop Neural Probe That Will Limit Damage to Cells and Biological Tissue (10/16/2008)

Engineering researchers have developed a neural probe that demonstrates significantly greater electrical charge storage capacity than all other neural prosthetic devices. More charge storage capacity means the device can stimulate nerves and tissues with less damage and sense neural signals with better sensitivity. ...> Full Article

Extreme nature helps scientists design nano materials (10/15/2008)

Scientists have identified a stable, modifiable virus that could be used as a nanobuilding block. ...> Full Article

Nanotechnology boosts war on superbugs (10/14/2008)

Scientists are using a novel nanomechanical approach to investigate the workings of vancomycin, one of the few antibiotics that can be used to combat increasingly resistant infections such as MRSA ...> Full Article

Sensitive nanowire disease detectors created (10/12/2008)

Scientists have created nanowire sensors coupled with simple microprocessor electronics that are both sensitive and specific enough to be used for point-of-care disease detection ...> Full Article

Using living cells as nanotechnology factories (10/10/2008)

Researchers are using cells as factories to make DNA based nanostructures inside a living cell. ...> Full Article

A new material could act as a nanofridge for microchips (10/9/2008)

New material could be used to manufacture smaller and faster computers ...> Full Article

Ultrananocrystalline Diamond coating improves mechanical pump seals (10/8/2008)

From petroleum to food and beverage to pharmaceuticals, most industries use mechanical pumps, and all these pumps rely on seals to reduce leaks and maintenance costs. Argonne researchers, along with industry partners, have developed a new, efficient and cost-effective alternative to conventional seals. ...> Full Article

Team takes first atomic-scale compositional images of fuel-cell nanoparticles (10/6/2008)

Work could lead to better catalysts for eco-friendly energy storage devices ...> Full Article

Researchers use nanoparticles to deliver treatment for brain, spinal cord injuries (10/5/2008)

Researchers have developed a method of using nanoparticles to deliver treatments to injured brain and spinal cord cells. ...> Full Article

Study on properties of carbon nanotubes, water could have wide-ranging implications (10/4/2008)

A fresh discovery about the way water behaves inside carbon nanotubes could have implications in fields ranging from the function of ultra-tiny high-tech devices to scientists' understanding of biological processes ...> Full Article

Under pressure at the nanoscale, polymers play by different rules (10/3/2008)

Scientists putting the squeeze on thin films of polystyrene have discovered that at very short length scales the polymer doesn't play by the rules. ...> Full Article

University of Texas at Austin Licenses Technology for Nanoparticle Detection to Houston Company (10/2/2008)

Technology that can determine the concentration of nanomaterials in living tissue has been licensed by The University of Texas at Austin to Houston-based nanoTox Inc. ...> Full Article

When Particles Are So Small That They Seep Right Through Skin (10/1/2008)

Scientists are finding that particles that are barely there - tiny objects known as nanoparticles that have found a home in electronics, food containers, sunscreens, and a variety of applications - can breech our most personal protective barrier: The skin. ...> Full Article