Nanotechnology : News

Your interpretations of nanotechnology

Admin — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:32:10 +0000

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For reference (and fun) we are gatherering your slant on 'Nanotechnology' - Send in your idea of what nanotechnolgy is.

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We are going to list everyones idea on the concept of nanotechnology. Whether funny, off the wall or serious we would love to hear from you. All submissions will get your name and url acknowledged.

Here is one slightly understated submission - 'Nanotechnology is about small things'

So come on nanoviper's lets be hearing form you. You can use the form below. 100 words or less please. http://www.nanovip.com/contact

Read the results - http://www.nanovip.com/node/53670

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The Latest Nanotechnolgy News Snips From Around The World. - CLICK HERE

Admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:10:29 +0000

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Here we add all the latest news snips from around the world. Hopefully they will be of interest to you. I guess they idea is to save you trolling lots of sites and reading headlines

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ConocoPhillips, University of Kansas launch nanotech program

ConocoPhillips Co. and the University of Kansas have launched a joint three-year nanotechnology research program to develop new oilfield technologies. The Houston-based energy giant (NYSE: COP) will contribute $400,000 a year to the program. Nanotechnology — essentially engineering on the molecular level — has grown from an oil industry buzzword to a major breakthrough in enhanced oil recovery. The energy industry hopes nanosensors can better find pockets of unrecovered oil in depleted reservoirs, and nanoparticles may lead to more efficient recovery. The University of Kansas recently established a strong nanotechnology research program, but has been involved in enhanced oil recovery since the 1970s. University researchers will develop and test polymers using nanotechnology, then hand them over to ConocoPhillips for field testing. “KU’s extensive experience in enhanced oil recovery and nanotechnology provides an ideal foundation for our collaborative research focused on developing promising new oilfield applications,” said Stephen Brand, senior vice president of technology at ConocoPhillips.

Leeds University announces nanotechnology partnership

The University of Leeds (UK) has signed a Research Agreement with King Saud University in Saudi Arabia to develop collaborations in nanoscience, technology and engineering with the King Abdullah Institute of Nanotechnology. This new collaboration will develop joint PhD projects, funded research and enterprise activities in medicine and health, biology, chemical manufacturing, electronics and other sectors. The programme is administered through the University of Leeds NanoManufacturing Institute and will provide new funding for PhD research and collaborative exchanges. Professor Richard Williams, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Enterprise, Knowledge Transfer and International Strategy at the University of Leeds said: "This continues a series of educational agreements with KSU and we are delighted this is our first major research and enterprise project in an area that draws on a distinctive research strength for Leeds in an area that has major societal impact.

Tasmanians To Get An Insight Into Nanotechnology

Three highly experienced researchers and industry representatives tonight will provide their insight to Tasmanian innovators and investors at the i-cubed Nanotechnology – An Insight seminar hosted by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The Nanotechnology – An Insight seminar will provide a background on what nanotechnology is, and the potential benefits and applications this technology can offer. It also will give a snapshot of what is occurring locally and nationally in this area. The Minister for Economic Development, Michael Aird, said that nanotechnology has the potential to create many new materials and devices with wide-ranging applications. “Nanotechnology generally deals with structures that are so small they cannot be detected with the naked eye, and can be used in a number of areas such as medicine, electronics and energy production,” Mr Aird said. “When particles are reduced to nano size they can be worked with to form many exciting new materials, such as extra strong plastics, UV and abrasion-resistant coatings and highly effective transparent sunscreens. “At Tasmania’s Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), research is being conducted on miniaturised analytical systems to be used in biotechnology, clinical diagnostics, counter terrorism and environmental monitoring. “The State Government is excited about the many applications of nanotechnology and is committed to supporting Tasmanian scientists and industries that use this novel approach.”

Kenyan education should embrace nanotechnology

Kenya should introduce a nanotechnology curriculum to position the country as a "global player" in this emerging area of science and technology, write Macharia Waruingi and Jean Njoroge in Business Daily Africa. Nanotechnology could potentially make a greater impact than biotechnology and information technology combined, with an estimated market value of US$1 trillion by 2015. Africa is well

Nanotech centre in Washington

George Washington University in Washington DC has announced the establishment of the GW Institute for Nanotechnology which will draw on the expertise of the university’s faculty members across a range of disciplines.

Nanotechnology in schools

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, will today in Melbourne launch an innovative secondary school resource that will assist science teachers to teach nanotechnology in Australian schools. AccessNano, a cutting-edge educational resource, is designed to introduce accessible and innovative science and technology into classrooms, and provide an integrated approach to teaching nanotechnolgy. The Australian Office of Nanotechnology developed AccessNano following feedback from science teachers that children were asking to be taught about nanotechnology, but many teachers did not have the knowledge or resources to be able to teach the topic.

US Army Embraces Nanotechnology

Few of late have not heard about nanotechnology and the advances that have been made with this wondrous technology. Self-repairing paint, possible future surgeries that are invasive, advances plastics and medical technology, and even future ideas for computers are among the few that have been heard about this year alone. However, there are other uses for nanoids including the use of protective equipment and storage materials. This last subject has been the debate of the moment for the next U.S. Army Corrosion Summit. It is hoped that nanotechnology may be applied to corrosive materials and helped to retain them by creating anti-corrosion technology through the use of nanotechnology. As more studies are done on this new science, it is also speculated that further uses including food and water storage for soldiers, and stronger protective shield for mobile units. In addition, there is also the possibility of more affordable and stronger personal armor for soldiers to use on the front line. As this new science is explored, more advances are expected be discovered as time passes, which will hopefully turn into the ability to protect U.S. Army soldiers and supplies while in the field.

CCAS, SEAS launch Institute for Nanotechnology

A recently launched Institute for Nanotechnology at GW will investigate a developing science that studies objects 1/100,000th the size of a strand of hair.In a partnership between the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Institute for Nanotechnology will research atoms at the nano level and ultimately help create new goods and materials. The University has committed $200,000 to the institute for its first year.

NANO ACCESS IN A NUTSHELL

AccessNano is all set for its November 28th launch by The Honourable Julia Guillard MP at the 2008 Science Teachers Association of Victoria Conference. What is AccessNano? AccessNano is a cutting-edge nanotechnology educational resource designed to introduce accessible and innovative science and technology into Australian secondary school classrooms. It is different from most other nanotechnology education initiatives as it provides an integrated and locally-relevant approach to teaching nanotechnology. AccessNano is presented in the form of 13 web-based, curriculum-matched modules targeted at years 7-11, featuring PowerPoint presentations, experiments, activities, animations and links to interactive websites. accessnano.org/

Nanotechnology sparks fears for the future

READ FULL REPORT - http://www.rcep.org.uk/novelmaterials.htm

Footware enhanced by nanotechnology

Guests at the London Aquarium last August 27th were first to see the unvieling of Hi-Tec's revolutionary footware named 'ion mask'. Dr Ian Robins, Business Development Director of P2i, adds: “ion-mask™ surface enhancement nano-technology can treat everyday objects without altering the look, design or feel of the object.

Nanotechnology park needs a name

The Mayor of South Bend Mayor Luecke is asking local residents to come up with a name for the city's future 83 acre nanotechnology park

Nanotechnology Operations To Be Housed In Moscow

In 2009, production of unique nanomaterials for the aviation industry will be launched in Moscow, said Alexander Yuzvik, general director of the Moscow-based state-owned company Stroyexprom. The decision to set up the operations on the territory of the now closed AZLK car factory was made by the city's authorities and the Russian Corporation of Nanotechnology. Moscow has allotted some RUB 1.7bn (approx. USD 63.17m) from its budget to revamp the factory's facilities. According to Yuzvik, some Austrian and French companies have already been given the green light to run their operations in the area. Apart from them, a Russian firm based with the Moscow State University's chemical faculty will set up its production there as well, and Stroyexprom is in talks to attract more partners.

Fuel efficient engine oil driven by nanotechnology

High-tech lubricant hailed the 'top dog of engine oil' has been launched at an industry event at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. The London firm behind the venture - NanoBoron UK - says the oil has been scientifically proven to improve fuel consumption more than 10 per cent, reduce engine wear and corrosion and help the environment.

Nanotechnology May Help Nepal

Nanotechnology has tremendous possibility to create many new materials and devices with numerous applications, such as in medicine, electronics, and energy production.In September 2000, 189 member states of the UN agreed on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)- Nepal was one of them

Scientific center in nanotechnology started

A regional center in nanotechnology education will be lead by Lansing Community college which will bring together colleges throughout Michigan. The initiative will be named Nano-Link and is funded to the tune of $3 million dollars by The National Science Foundation.

'Second Life' has launched a nanotechnology concept

You know nanotechnology is here to stay when 'Second Life' have created a nanotechnology island within their online virtual world. The aim is to bring nanotech communities together and form relationships between scientists and polcy makers. Well well, what next?

Drug development research aided by nanoparticles

(UK)Liverpool University scientists have been developing a new method that will improve the effectiveness of antibacterial treatments. The new technology is allowing the scientists to develop new medicines by converting currently available drugs into a nanoparticle form. Antiparastitic drugs to treat malaria are also being developed in collaboration with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Nanotech Program Launched By Australian Government

The federal government has launched a $100 million science program aimed at providing laboratories and support for work on micro and nano-fabrication research. The program is to be distributed between seven universities across Australia

Nanocosmetics spark fears

Which magazine report fears over the safety of skin products that are developed with nanotechnology. They are calling for stricter regulations saying that consumers have no idea what they are actually using

There is a difference between Carbon and Nanotubes

Nanotubes are difference than carbon, with carbon nanotubes considered new substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act. This is the position taken by the US Environmental Protection Agency

Managed to kill 98% cervical cancer cells

Scientists at Little Rock have developed a method of killing the cancer cells by injecting them with minute magnetic particles which are heated with low radio frequency radiation. They are working in collaboration with The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

NY - Solar power to be more efficient

Researchers have developed a new antireflective coating that will allow the panels to capture more sunlight. Congratulations to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

US - 39 engineers and scientist selected for 3 year research grant awards

Total awards amount to $12.1 million. The awaards are aimed at creating basic research in many areas such as physics, electronics, chemical and life sciences

More effective insulation using nanotechnology

It is now possible to paint on materials that have been created using nanotechnology that give the surface properties and definitions due to the minute enhanced nano-structures. Think about aircraft and the aerodynamics possibilities.

Chennai, India - Date set for Nanotechnology Conclave 2009

4th Nanotechnology Conclave 2009, Tamil Nadu TEchnology Development & Promotion Center of CII's mega international event, is scheduled to be held in Chennai, India, at Hotel Taj Coromandal, from 02-03 March 2009.

Stamping nanodevices with rubber moulds

Cornell researchers have developed a way to pattern and make nanoscale wires along with other devices. Normally expensive lithographic equipment had been used for this process. The moulds stamp the structures required.

Bioinformatics Industry supported by Nanotechnology will grow at 31% by year 2010

With lots of early success in this field such as nanoparticulate synthetic bone substitute and nanocomposite packaging materials that increases the shelf life of food products. Bioinformatics applications are expected to be instrumental in providing the first major break-through to nanotechnology.

Nanotools sales set to explode in USA

Nanotools are being used in many areas such as research, biomedical and the electronics industry. Sales of nanotools in the electronics industry alone are expected to exceed $450 million by the end of 2012

Nanotechnology to be pushed by The Confederation of Indian Industry

Industry is being urged forward and research projects should be given preference. A skill development initiative is required to support this emerging technolgy. The Indian government is being asked to establish a strong infrastructure to aid this push.

Mend a Boken Heart?

A novel scaffold developed by MIT could mend broken hearts one day. The idea is that living heart cells or stem cells seeded onto such a scaffold would develop into a patch of cardiac tissue that could be used to treat congenital heart defects, or aid the recovery of tissue damaged by a heart attack. The biodegradable scaffold would be gradually absorbed into the body, leaving behind new tissue.

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General Enquiries

Admin — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:39:36 +0000

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We get a lot of students enquiring about various matters so we will be posting them here to help out. If you need help use our contact form with your requirements.

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Dear Colleagues,

Researcher in nanomaterial and environemtal researches

Dear Colleagues, I would like to introduce myslef with my Cv at
http://www.geocities.com/hkazemian/CV.doc. Now I want to relocate from my
country to North America or European countries. if you have any research posiiton please contact me

hosseinkazemian@gmail.com

Sincerely
Kazemian

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Dear sir or madam,

A place to write my diploma thesis

I am a bio- nanotechnology student at an advanced technical college in the
9th semester. From march 2009 to the end of may 2009 i need a ministered
place (german diplom-engineer / degreed engineer (advanced technical
college) or higher gradet) were i could write my diploma thesis. Please
write me, if you could help me. I'm interested in jobs in germany, close
to germany (european union) or anywhere else if i get extra payment for
it, in germany i would finance myself but would not mind getting payment.

hd_trinkaus@msn.com

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Hello

Student Research

I was wondering if you had any additional information concerning
nanotechnology and the different markets and suppliers that are already in
the industry. Any other additional information would be greatly
appreciated!!!

tho0505@gmail.com

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GET NANOVIP'S WIDGET FOR YOUR WEBSITE

Admin — Wed, 14 May 2008 00:36:48 +0000

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Get our Nanovip's widget to add to your website and receive all our updates as they happen

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Nanotechnology Career Course Institutions in India and Abroad

Admin — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:15:02 +0000

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The science of the miniature- nanotechnology, though a relatively new field is fast emerging as the 'favourite of all' kind of technological arena due to its application in almost every field, from medicine to fabrics. 'Nano' in Greek means dwarf and material, when reduced to nanodimension (10-9metre =1namometre) shows drastic changes in Physical, Chemical, magnetic, optical, mechanical and electrical properties. This promises exiting applications in bioscience, medical science, environment, electronics, cosmetics, security and variety of other fields.
Everything on this earth is made up of atoms, which are the smallest particles. The properties of everything are determined by the arrangement of the atoms. Thus, if atoms in coal are rearranged, we can get diamond. At present, though scientists are able to move molecules and atoms in a mass yet they are still not able to precisely manipulate them. But in future, nanotechnology will allow as redesign easily and create what we want exactly. Further, nanomaterials would be very light, strong, transparent, and totally different from bulk material because they are a thousand times smaller than the diameter of human hair, which is around 60 microns.

The scope and application of nanotechnology is tremendous and mind-boggling. According to the scientists, 21st century would be the nanotechnology century. It is estimated that nanotechnology would revolutionize every area, be it medicine, aerospace, engineering, various industrial and technological areas, health or any other field. Nanobiotechnology can make tiny medical devices and sensors with fantastic military and civilian use. Converting sunlight into power, targeting a drug to a single malignant cell, cleaning ponds and creating sensors in the form of biochip, to be interested in the human body are some of the important landmark breakthroughs of nanotechnology. The technology has the potential to produce garments which can block chemical and biological weapons from touching the skin of a person.

Nanotechnology has many more applications. It can help detect narcotics and fingerprints of suspects in crimes. The technology can make canonized robots and repair damaged and diseased tissues. Nanobots may be made from carbon nanotubes to carry out functions like human beings. Nano- coatings are transparent, scratch- resistant and dirt repellent. Thus, it is estimated that there will be no sector of industry which will not use nanotechnology in future.

Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary subject which essentially combines Physics, Chemistry, Bio- informatics Bio- technology, etc. Though the field is at present in infancy stage (started some 16 years ago in India), the country is making dedicated efforts not to lag behind after starting work in this field. As a result, there is a great demand for students who do their M. Tech in nanotechnology because a large number of industries and laboratories in India and overseas would lab them up. There are many exciting new fields which will open up for the nanotechnology experts including-

* Health Industry research and consulting- pharmaceutical, medical, agriculture, food and beverage, environment industries.
* Research and development in government, universities and private research institutes
* Education and academic
* Entrepreneurial, management and investment advisors in biotechnology and research and development industry.
* Product development and advising.
* Communication and media, interfacing of new technologies.
* Many new industries emerging as a result of advances in nanotechnology

To become a successful professional in the specified field of nanotechnology, it is important that you should have an M. Tech degree in the subject. To get into an M. Tech course, you should have a degree in Physics, Chemistry or Biotechnology. The M. Tech course is of great benefit because students who come from different streams enrich each other to intensify their knowledge.
There are many institutions which have started courses in nanotechnology;

* Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore;
* Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore;
* National Physical Laboratory, Delhi;
* Solid State Physics Laboratory, Delhi;
* National Chemical Laboratory, Pune;
* Central Scientific Instruments Organization, Chandigarh;
* Defence Materials Store Research & Development Organizations, kanpur
* Indian Institutes of Technology at Kanpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Delhi and Mumbai.

In addition, the Delhi and Benaras Hindu Universities (Varanasi) are also conducting research in nanotechnology. It is important to note here that although these institutions are focusing on research, there is no institute exclusively providing courses in nanotechnology.

In private sector also, there is one institute, Amity Institute of nanotechnology, Noida, which offers a two- year M. Tech degree programme. The education provided is comprehensive. Students are provided the opportunity to Get trained at reputed institutes like Solid State Physics Laboratory, National Physical Laboratory, Delhi University, Indian Institute of Technology and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, etc.

Anticipating huge gains in future, countries like USA, UK, Japan, China, Germany and France have invested a lot of funds and have also focused programme at the national level. The USA, under its National Initiatives in Nanotechnology, is planning to invest $1 trillion by 2015. The Indian Government has started a scheme "S&T Initiatives in Nanotechnology" with a starting capital fund of Rs. 100 crore for five years.

There is a growing demand for nanotechnology, you will start with a monthly salary of Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 30,000. The further rise is manifold and perks could be much more.

source...
www.winentrance.com

Other courses.......
Vellore Institute of Technology,TamilNad u is also offering M.Tech course in Nanotechnology.

Department of physics Tezpur Central University is Providing MSc course in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in collaboration with Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and department of Chemical Sciences.
First batch has already completed their masters degree.
http://www.tezu. ernet.in/ dphy/index. html

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n-Surf Image Processor - Free evaluation

Admin — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:56:36 +0000

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n-Surf is a new generation of software for analyzing and processing of images of surfaces obtained by Scanning Probe or Atomic Force Microscopes (SPM/AFMs).

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n-Surf Image Processor.
n-Surf is a new generation of software for analyzing and processing of images of surfaces obtained by Scanning Probe or Atomic Force Microscopes (SPM/AFMs). This application was developed for high-quality visualization and easy processing of all types of images. To date, support for Veeco/DI, NT-MDT and MPRI files has been implemented.

Owing to the virtual main frame and other unique features, multidocument interface allows to work easily and concurrently with a variety of images.
You will enjoy freedom in manipulating different views of your document in the n - Surf environment.

This application uses all modern facilities of Windows 2000/XP, such as Thumbnails, Clipboard, Float toolbars, Contexts Help and others.

Superior printing quality will fit every user's requirements.

The basic concept of n-Surf is presentation of all images in the form of three views, namely, 2D, Bump and 3D, each having strengths and weaknesses. However, you have freedom in choosing the most workable one to solve your specific problems.

Researchers can use a lot of facilities and processing methods offered:

* Variety of filters such as Arithmetic mean, Median, Laplacian, Gaussian, High-pass, Low-pass, Sharpening, Prewitt, Scharr, Sobel, Roberts and others.
* Dilate and Erode morphological operations.
* Fourier transform and Autocorrelation.
* Roughness analysis, Height histogram and Bearing curve.
* Profiles.
* Special operations such as Jump elimination, Flatting and Plane fitting.

This list is by no means complete and will undergo replenishment in the future. At present n-Surf is constantly under development. Therefore there is always a room to implement specific suggestions of its customers. I would be happy to receive your remarks and proposals as to modification of this software.

Feel free to download the n-Surf 1.0 beta evaluation version.
http://www.n-surf.com/download.html

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Once bitten ...

Admin — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:46:03 +0000

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The science of nanotechnology is already revolutionising the worlds of medicine and construction. Soon it could be doing the same for our food - but after the backlash against GM foods, says Steve Boggan, will the consumers swallow it?

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How do you fancy tucking into a bowl of ice cream that has no more fat than a carrot? Or eating a burger that will lower your cholesterol? If you are allergic to peanuts, perhaps you'd like to fix your food so that any nut traces pass harmlessly through your body. Welcome to the world of nanofoods, where almost anything is possible: where food can be manipulated at an atomic or molecular level to taste as delicious as you want, do you as much good as you want, and stay fresh for ... well, who knows? A world where smart pesticides are harmless until they reach the stomachs of destructive insects; where food manufacturers promise an end to starvation; where smart packaging sniffs out and destroys the micro-organisms that make good food go bad. In short, a food heaven to those who see it spelling the end of obesity and poor diet. Food hell to those who believe the case for nanofood safety is still far from proven. One thing is certain: after the controversy that surrounded genetically modified foods, nano is set to become the next kitchen battleground.

Nanotechnology has its roots in a talk delivered in 1959 by physicist Richard Feynman to the American Physical Society. He predicted a time when individual atoms and molecules might be used as the building blocks for a set of tools that could then make a smaller set, and so on. The scale he was talking about strains the imagination. A nanometer - nm - (from the Greek word nanos, dwarf) is one-billionth of a metre. To help you visualise how small that is, a red blood cell is about 7,000nm across, a human hair 80,000nm wide and a water molecule slightly less than 0.3nm in diameter. The science of nanotechnology generally inhabits the region of 0.1nm to 100nm.

The science behind the theory became a reality in the 1980s with the invention of specialist microscopes which allowed scientists to see how atoms and molecules behaved in different conditions. By manipulating those conditions - say, with other chemicals, heat, moisture, electromagnetism and so on - they could encourage atoms and molecules to form useful shapes.

This resulted in the creation of new nanomaterials built at the atomic level that promise to revolutionise everything from chemistry to aeronautics. Some nanotechnology products are already on the market - sunscreens, for example, make use of titanium oxide, TiO2. At larger scales TiO2 is white, opaque and good for blocking ultraviolet light. However, at the nanoscale it becomes transparent while retaining its UV-blocking properties, making it perfect for protection against the sun's harmful rays.

Others look set to follow. Carbon nanotubes, for example, could revolutionise the construction industry. Seamless tubes of graphite one atom thick and 10,000 long (to the naked eye, large quantities would look like soot), carbon nanotubes are up to 100 times stronger than steel but around eight times lighter. They can be teased into a twine that can be woven into sheets and, potentially, mixed with composites to eventually overhaul the way - and the height to which - we build. And those buildings could be covered with solar cells made from nanomaterials that could supply all their energy needs. In medicine, "nanocapsules" containing pharmaceuticals that can be programmed to release their cargoes only on contact with, say, cancer cells, are promising new and improved treatments. Not surprising, then, that the proponents of nanotechnology predict that it will lead to a new industrial revolution.

In food, however, the excitement is being matched by health and environmental concerns at all three stages of production: farming, processing and packaging. In its report, Down on the Farm, the ETC Group, an independent Canadian technology watchdog, predicts: "From soil to supper, nanotechnology will not only change how every step of the food chain operates, but it will also change who is involved. At stake is the world's $3 trillion food retail market, agricultural export markets valued at $544bn, the livelihoods of 2.6 billion farming people, and the wellbeing of the rest of us who depend upon farmers for our daily bread."

Nano-futurists don't dispute that, one day, nanofoods will be everywhere. They envisage a day when tiny sensors called motes or smart dust will radio information to the farmer detailing what is going on in his field, inside his crops and in the bodies of his animals so that he can optimise his yields. While such "precision farming" is some way off, nanotechnology is already here in the form of smart pesticides, or nanocides. Syngenta, Monsanto and BASF are among companies that have either developed or are researching pesticides on the nano-scale that they claim will be more stable, longer-lasting and deadlier to pests.

Several of these have already passed safety tests and are licensed for use in Britain and the US. Their active ingredients have been around for years without causing problems; only the delivery method has changed. This involves controlled-release systems that use small polymer capsules which can be more evenly diluted in liquid, be programmed to "stick" to the parts of plants where they are needed, and even remain inert until activated by the alkaline content of a certain insect's stomach; only then do they burst open and kill the pest. Agrochemical companies argue that this means the pesticides are smarter, need lower concentrations of active ingredients, can be programmed not to harm "friendly" insects, and are more easily and safely broken down in the environment.

Packaging, too, may change. Coatings made from smart nanoparticles that can sniff out the telltale gases given off by deteriorating food will trigger colour changes on labels. The label will also tell you when something is ripe. It's called intelligent packaging.

But there is a problem. There are signs that consumers will recoil from any food to which this new technology is applied. Several years ago, the big food companies were happy to talk about products that might be in the pipeline. Famously, Kraft Foods described a tasteless, odourless drink that might contain dozens of flavours, colours and nutrients in billions of microcapsules that could be activated - possibly by microwave - at home. You might turn it into a strawberry-flavoured drink, while I might opt for lemon and lime. Then came the consumer opposition to GM. Nowadays it is difficult to get food companies even to admit they are conducting researching into nano.

However, one firm of German technology analysts, the Helmut Kaiser Consultancy, estimates that hundreds of food companies are conducting research into nanotechnology. Its latest report says: "The nanofood market [soared] from $2.6bn in 2003 to $5.3bn in 2005 and is expected to reach $20.4bn in 2010. The nano-featured food-packaging market will grow from $1.1bn in 2005 to $3.7bn in 2010. More than 400 companies around the world are active in research, development and production. The US is the leader, followed by Japan and China. By 2010, Asia, with more than 50% of the world population, will become the biggest market for nanofood, with China in the leading position."

I approached five of the world's largest food companies, Kraft, Cadbury Schweppes, Unilever, Nestlé and HJ Heinz. Cadbury Schweppes said it was "keeping a watching brief" but was not actively researching nanofood; Heinz had no plans to use nanotechnology; and Kraft and Nestlé made no comment. Unilever, however, was willing to provide a food manufacturer's perspective.

Charles-François Gaudefroy, whose job title - head of consumer confidence and sustainability for research and development - is indicative of the task ahead of him, says there is much hype about nanofood. "There are some people who say nanotechnology is everywhere," he says. "Well, I'd like to see it first. We do not have it in food at the moment, but the potential is manifold, particularly in stabilising foods and enhancing their nutritional properties. For example, if you squeeze an orange and drink it now, you will get vitamin C from it, but if you leave it a while, all the vitamin C will vanish. Putting the vitamin C in nanocapsules can allow it to be released only when it is drunk.

"And [it could be useful in] stabilising nutrients in food. For example, iron and essential fats such as omega-3 do not remain stable in liquids; they oxidise and that changes the colour, odour, the taste of the product ... You could use nanotechnology to stabilise the nutritional properties of products and that would be of benefit to people with deficiencies - anaemia, for example."

Food companies, he says, are also excited by the prospect of intelligent packaging and the ability to give foods a longer shelf life. "In Africa, there is food, but part of the issue is bringing it to the table and increasing its nutrition profile to give children a better start. Stabilisation of nutrients and enabling longer shelf life are areas of development that can reduce suffering."

In Europe, any nanofoods would have to gain approval under a European Commission directorate on new foods and ingredients that was introduced in 1997 to regulate genetically modified products or those manipulated at a molecular level. The directorate requires such products to be assessed by member states before a licence can be granted. In Britain, the EU and the US, moves have been made to introduce voluntary codes of practice for research and manufacturing in nanotechnology, but hard legislation is lagging behind.

So what about safety? A report by the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2004 expressed concern that little was known about the behaviour of nanoparticles in the environment and recommended that waste containing them should be treated as hazardous until proven otherwise. Since then, the Royal Society and the Council for Science and Technology (CST), the government's main advisory body on science issues, has criticised ministers for failing to put measures in place for assessing the environmental risks. "There is a pressing need for a programme of central government spending [on research] into the toxicology, health and environmental effects of nanotechnologies," the chairman of the CST's nanotechnologies sub-group, Professor John Beringer, said in March last year. "Without a substantial home research endeavour, the UK risks being left out in the cold in future international collaboration. To put it bluntly, the safe development of a new technology should not depend on whether an academic wins a highly competitive research grant."

The US's Environmental Protection Agency has set up a committee to develop a framework for safety legislation, but the tendency so far has been to accept nano-manipulated materials as being no different from their larger relatives. But any chemist will tell you that materials behave differently at different sizes. Aluminium, for example, is stable in everyday concentrations, but becomes explosive at micro-fine levels.

"I think the authorities know this and they are concerned, but they've been caught flat-footed," says Pat Mooney, the executive director of ETC. "I met a guy who said his company was shipping carbon nanotubes but they'd started limiting the shipment to a couple of kilos at a time because in concentrations of more than that they tended to become explosive. His company didn't know why. That inevitably raises questions about nanotechnology in pesticides and food."

Lynn Frewer, professor of food safety and consumer behaviour at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, acknowledges the potential benefits nanotechnology could bring, but when I ask her about the risks, she says: "The problem with the digestion of nanoparticles is that we don't know where in the body they would end up. If they are small enough to travel through the wall of the gut, which some nanoparticles would be designed to do, they could end up anywhere. And how will they accumulate and travel through the food chain? We simply don't know."

Dr Mike Bushell, Syngenta's research head, disagrees, arguing that nano-sized particles are more easily and safely degraded in the environment. There is, then, much disagreement in an industry still in its infancy, an industry that hasn't yet got international standards of safety. There isn't even an internationally accepted lexicon of nanotechnology.

Last year, the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars in Washington, an independent Washington-based research institute, published a report entitled Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Food. It expressed concern at the lack of research, concluding: "Neither industry nor government appears to be doing its homework. Products could end up in the market without a proper assessment of risk or end up indefinitely halted at the threshold of commercialisation."

Whether nano-engineered foodstuffs land on our tables will, to a large extent, depend on consumers. If it proves as controversial as GM to many food buyers and environmentalists, then marketing it could be difficult - something of which the industry is well aware. Unilever's Gaudefroy says: "There are areas where debate is vital and it is only just beginning. Much of this is driven by what happened with GM. We have to explain to consumers the good side of nanotechnology and what benefits it can bring them.

"Food regulations, in particular the EU's novel-foods directive, prescribe stringent environmental and safety evaluation before anything is introduced to the market. I can see areas where people could be afraid of nanotechnology - in weaponry, for example. But in food? No. I really don't see mad scientists doing mad things."

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Steve Boggan
www.guardian.co.uk

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Ending drunk-driving deaths is in sight, experts say

JohnT — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:03:57 +0000

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OTTAWA -- Emerging nanotechnology may put an end to a costly social problem that years of public awareness campaigns have not -- deaths caused by drinking and driving.

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OTTAWA -- Emerging nanotechnology may put an end to a costly social problem that years of public awareness campaigns have not -- deaths caused by drinking and driving.

"Technology in itself, in time, could almost eliminate impaired driving," said Andrew Murie, CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada.

About 1,500 people a year die in Canada from alcohol-related accidents on roads, recreational vehicles and boats.

But what has MADD, governments and police forces excited about is a new generation of ignition interlocking devices, which prevent a car, and potentially all vehicles, from being started if the driver's blood-alcohol level is over a preset level.

A blue-ribbon panel in the U.S. -- which Transport Canada, MADD Canada and automakers are members of -- is considering having the interlocking devices installed in all new cars so that, if a driver is over the legal blood-alcohol level, the car won't start.

The group is studying various nanotechnologies, but one of them uses sensors embedded in the steering wheel or gear shift that can measure blood-alcohol levels through the skin -- much as an exercise machine can measure a heart rate.

Most provinces and territories have or are planning to bring in interlocking devices, but these are the old-generation devices, where drivers have to blow into a tube. Furthermore, they're only available to people who have been convicted of drunk driving.

Murie said there are only about 11,000 interlocks on cars in Canada now, but about 90,000 drunk-driving convictions a year. The current interlocking devices are widely credited with cutting down on recidivism, but they aren't widely used and few experts believe all drivers would accept having to blow into the device every time they want to start their cars.

But Murie said efforts to curb drinking and driving have plateaued since about 1999.
"We've gone as far as we can on behaviour changes," he said.

That is why the nanotechnology, which would be far more passive than the current interlocking devices, may become for Canadians an acceptable trade-off between civil liberties and an effort to save lives.

A survey to be released by MADD and Transport Canada on Tuesday will show that close to 60 per cent of Canadians would support interlocking devices with nanotechnology in all Canadian cars. Murie expects those numbers to climb quickly once people see a prototype and understand it better. Both Nissan and Toyota are well on their way to being able to produce cars with the nanotechnology.

But Marlene Bourne, an emerging technologies expert from the U.S., says she expects it to provoke vigorous debate.

"I'm not sure about Canada, but I would think in the United States, somebody's going to make an argument that it's an invasion of privacy and you should be able to do whatever you want in your car," she said.

"And then you could get, on the other hand, the argument for simple public safety."

Paul Boase, a Transport Canada official, said the issue is not just about road safety, and agreed there needs to be political debate.

"Certainly, the integrity and the reliability of the system would be very important to get people to buy in," he said. "If this thing is failing a lot, or is too easy to defeat, then presumably people won't be interested in it."

Cost will also be an issue with consumers, he said.

But there may be growing interest.

Quebec's transport minister, Julie Boulet, will also meet with her federal counterpart soon to ask that interlocking devices become mandatory on all new cars in Canada, something the Canadian Police Association also supports.

And documents obtained by CanWest News Service show that Transport Canada is creating "best practices" for implementing and operating an interlocking-device program.

"The standards are not intended as a set of rules that should be strictly adhered to," a draft report says. "Rather, they are intended as guidelines for best practices." This is based on the old blowing technology, but the document acknowledges that changes in technology for interlocking devices will require constant updating to the standards.

Licensing and suspensions fall under provincial jurisdiction. But if Canada decided all new cars had to have an interlocking device, it would have to be under federal legislation, probably under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, Boase said.

While Alberta was the first province in the country to introduce an interlock program, Quebec has the highest rate of people convicted of drunk driving who use the devices -- 20 per cent, compared to the national average of 15 per cent.

The movement to force all new cars to have interlocking devices is also progressing in the U.S. In New York State, a bill has been introduced that would require interlocks on all new cars, and others are being proposed in New Jersey, Connecticut and Washington state. A similar law, proposed by House Representative Ken Martinez, failed to pass in New Mexico in 2004.

"At the time of the legislation, the technology was emerging," Martinez said. "Today, we are much closer to a technological solution that is safe, effective and transparent. 'Transparent' means in the industry it's there, but it doesn't bother you -- or, better, you don't notice it till it's needed, much like an airbag."

It may sound utopian, but Murie is hopeful the nanotechnology will be widely accepted.

"It is reasonable to think that in the next decade or so, that you could almost see the elimination of impaired driving.

"If you can't get the drunk to stop driving, then you get the car to stop carrying the drunk around."

Sidebar:

Ignition interlocks - blow by blow

CanWest News Service

A standard ignition interlock device is an alcohol analyzer, usually mounted on the dashboard and connected to the car's ignition. It's used to monitor the blood-alcohol level by people convicted in impaired driving cases.

The driver blows into the device, which registers his blood-alcohol level. If he registers above a set mark, usually 0.02 or 0.04 per cent, the vehicle won't start.

Once the car is in motion, the device periodically asks for another breath sample. That is a measure to prevent someone else from blowing into it and allowing an intoxicated person to get behind the wheel. If the breath sample isn't provided, or the sample exceeds the preset blood alcohol level, the device will record the event, warn the driver and set off an alarm until the ignition is turned off. Some devices can even recognize if the initial and subsequent samples are from the same person.

The interlock records its activity and the vehicle's electrical system to guard against tampering.

Most Canadian provinces and territories have an ignition interlock program or plan to have one soon. Alberta was the first to introduce one in Canada in 1990.

Participation rates vary from province to province. Participation can be mandatory or discretionary, depending on how many prior convictions someone has and what province he lives in.

Costs vary. In British Columbia, for instance, participants pay $880 to enrol in a driver-training program, then another $150 for the monitor. In Alberta, the driver-training program costs $150 to $375, and the application fee is $63 plus tax and a registry fee.

In Saskatchewan, the fees are $150 and $30 respectively. It's higher in Manitoba, at $525 and $180.

In Ontario, there is no required training program, but the application fees for the monitor total $150, plus a $95-per-month monitoring fee.

The program is free in Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Yukon.

Overall, it's estimated that fewer than 15 per cent of convicted impaired drivers participate in an interlock program. Quebec has one of the larger programs and enrols 20 per cent of its convicted impaired offenders.

There have also been calls in Canada, the U.S. and other countries for interlocks tobe mandatory on all vehicles.

New nanotechnology interlock devices function by measuring blood-alcohol level through the skin when the driver touches the steering wheel or gear shift.

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OTTAWA -- Emerging nanotechnology may put an end to a costly social problem that years of public awareness campaigns have not -- deaths caused by drinking and driving.

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Vitamin E Could Help 40% of Diabetics Ward off Heart Attacks According to the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology

JohnT — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 10:01:36 +0000

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Vitamin E supplements can significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and related deaths for diabetics

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HAIFA, Israel & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vitamin E supplements can significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and related deaths for diabetics who carry a particular version of a gene, according to researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and the Clalit Health Services in Israel.

After 18 months of treatment, people with the haptoglobin (Hp) 2-2 gene who took 400 International Units (IU) of vitamin E daily had more than 50 percent fewer heart attacks, strokes, and related deaths than Hp 2-2 patients who took a placebo pill. 40% of individuals with diabetes carry the Hp 2-2 gene.

The findings were published in the November 21 online edition of the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.

Most of the difference came from the reduced number of heart attacks among those taking vitamin E. In the group of 1,434 Hp 2-2 individuals taking part in the study, seven people had a heart attack, compared to 17 who did not take the vitamin. Dr. Andrew Levy, of the Technion Faculty of Medicine, said there were no side effects observed in patients who took vitamin E.

The study suggests that genetic testing for Hp 2-2 “may be useful to identify a large group of diabetes individuals who could potentially derive cardiovascular benefit from a very inexpensive treatment,” Levy said.

The finding is a new answer to an old question: can antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin E help prevent heart disease? Previously, cardiologists routinely prescribed vitamin E for their patients, but the practice has dwindled as several major studies in the past decade showed no heart-protective effects and potential harm from vitamin E mega-doses.

But Levy and colleagues suspected there might be one group of patients who could benefit from vitamin E: diabetic individuals with a particular variant of the haptoglobin gene. Haptoglobin is a powerful antioxidant protein that stabilizes the iron-rich red blood cell molecule called hemoglobin, preventing inflammation in the walls of arteries.

There are several versions of the haptoglobin gene. In previous studies, Levy and colleagues showed Hp 2-2 is an inferior antioxidant compared to its genetic siblings, and that this difference is exaggerated in patients with diabetes. They also discovered patients with Hp 2-2 are two-to-three times more likely than other diabetics to suffer a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack.

“This version of the gene does not determine whether or not an individual will develop diabetes but rather whether an individual with diabetes is susceptible to developing the complications associated with diabetes such as heart and kidney disease and visual loss,” Levy noted.

A genetic test for Hp 2-2 is commercially available, said Levy, who is also a consultant for Synvista Therapeutics, which owns a patent on the use of Hp testing to predict diabetic complications.

By making a kit, the group hopes to considerably lower the price of testing. According to Levy, the test would cost about $30 and only have to be done only once.

The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is Israel's leading science and technology university. Home to the country’s winners of the Nobel Prize in science, it commands a worldwide reputation for its pioneering work in nanotechnology, computer science, biotechnology, water-resource management, materials engineering, aerospace and medicine. The majority of the founders and managers of Israel's high-tech companies are alumni. Based in New York City, the American Technion Society (ATS) is the leading American organization supporting higher education in Israel, with 21 offices around the country.

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American Technion Society
Kevin Hattori, 212-407-6319
Kevin@ats.org

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H2OIL Corporation Announces Nanotechnology " eeFuel Saver" for the American Market

Admin — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:43:13 +0000

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Located in California's Silicon Valley, the company's goal has been to develop new generation fuel oil and oil technology products, which will give users an easy, cost effective, and highly efficient method of conserving energy, reduce air pollution and protecting equipment

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H2OIL Corporation Announces Nanotechnology " eeFuel Saver" for the American Market
One of the biggest needs in the world today is an ever increasing desire to save money on the rising cost of fuel, along with a heartfelt desire to contribute to a "Greener" lifestyle and helping the environment.

July 10, 2008 ( PowerHomeBiz ) - Toronto, Canada -- Located in California's Silicon Valley, the company's goal has been to develop new generation fuel oil and oil technology products, which will give users an easy, cost effective, and highly efficient method of conserving energy, reduce air pollution and protecting equipment (Wall Street Reporter).

(news continued below)))

The announcement is good news for the North American market. With its own concerns about energy conversation and environmental protection.

On March 14 2008 H2OIL - eeFuel registered with the U.S.EPA for use as a gasoline and diesel fuel additive for both bulk and aftermarket applications.

H2OIL Corporation is the forerunner in liquid fuel nanotechnology and manufacturing, as well as a distributing marketing company supplying products to Asia and European countries.

A recently published expert commission's report in the UK estimates that by 2050 the climate change Industry could be worth $2.8 trillion globally. Which shows that tackling climate change represents the greatest of challenges for the world,

Renewable energy will also play a key role in the move to a future low carbon economy and applying new technology to traditional power supplies is also on the cards.

eeFuel can play a very important role in conserving energy and protecting the environment immediately.

Nanotechnology eeFuel Additive is the only multi-functional liquid nanotechnology fuel enhancer on the market with a strong track record of real benefits

• Proven to save money • Significant environmental benefits • Practical solution for today's world market

It's safe and easy to use with no vehicle or engine modifications required.

Global warming is a serious problem and everyone should be given the opportunity to help the situation.

Allowing pollution to go unchecked is no longer a viable alternative.

Today, companies must work harder to produce products that are environmentally friendly.

High fuel costs are harming the economy worldwide.

There is an urgent need to increase the use of existing technologies that do not require additional research and development costs to reduce the dependence on foreign oil.

H2OIL Corporation is the leading developer and manufacture of fuel and oil additive products, utilizing the most advanced nanotechnology, for making gasoline, diesel fuel and engine oil additives. eeFuel is a registered trademark of H2OIL Corporation For more information on H2OIL- "eeFuel Saver" - eefuelnet.com

Contacts:
David Peters (647) 723 0419

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powerhomebiz.com

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Dolomite Launches The World's First Microfluidic Edge Connector

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:47:50 +0000

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New microfluidic connector enables systems development and improved fluid flow.

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New microfluidic connector enables systems development and improved fluid flow.

Leading microfluidic development company Dolomite have announced the release of a new microfluidic connector that will enable engineers and scientists to interface to microfluidic chips, helping them develop and manufacture microfluidic based fluid control systems more easily. The initial design of the in-line connector has four ports and is engineered to connect easily and perform reliably.

"Microfluidic chips have had a big impact on instrument design and development," said Mark Gilligan, Managing Director. "They enable small scale fluid control and analysis, allowing manufacturers to develop smaller, more cost-effective and more powerful systems. However, connecting and interfacing to these devices is a challenge in itself. We are confident that the new connectors that we are introducing to this market will be well received and will help reaffirm Dolomite’s commitment to developing products that enable engineers and scientists to apply microfluidic technology to their systems and products."

The new Dolomite microfluidic connector removes the need for expensive drilled holes in the chip by incorporating the holes into the actual chip fabrication process. Using this connector fluid flow is improved, as the fluid paths are straight-in rather than perpendicular, providing a smooth linear pathway. The standard version of the new connector is a fluidic bus with four fluid input/output ports on a single integrated connector to make chip connection and disconnection simple and fast.

"This device will benefit a broad range of industries," said Mark Gilligan. "Microfluidic devices are now being used in patient care systems, DNA testing, air pollution monitoring, fuel cell technology and drug development. It's very much an emerging technology with a huge potential and we already have a lot of interest in this device and the benefits that it will bring."

Dolomite has established itself as a leader in the field of microfluidics, working in chip design, chip fabrication, fluidic interfaces, flow cells, pumps, valves, detectors and integrated systems. They are also equipped with rapid prototyping facilities for the design and fabrication of glass and quartz devices and can provide low or medium volume production in glass or quartz and high volume production in polymers.

Microfluidic devices are developed using microfabrication techniques capable of creating microchannels and complex structures in the glass. The main fabrication processes are photolithography, wet etching of microchannel structures, micro-drilling of fluid ports, thermal bonding and surface modification. Dolomite are also able to undertake traditional precision glass processing techniques such as mechanical and optical polishing, grinding, cutting and dicing allowing them to extend the range of geometries that are possible.

About Dolomite
Established in 2005 as the world’s first microfluidic application centre, Dolomite is focussed on working with customers to turn their concepts for microfluidic applications into reality. With an in-depth understanding of chemistry and the life sciences, expertise in microfabrication and microfluidics, together with instrument design and development capabilities, Dolomite is enabling some of the world’s top providers in fields as diverse as environmental monitoring, drug discovery and forensic science to deliver microfluidic systems to the market place. To find out more about Dolomite, please visit – www.dolomite-microfluidics.com

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Contact:
Dolomite Contact: Dr Gillian Davis, Commercial Director
Tel: +44 1763 242491
e-mail: sales@dolomite-microfluidics.com

Media Contact: Richard Blackburn, Energi Technical Limited
Tel: +44 1603 278228
e-mail: richard@energi-tech.co.uk

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Dolomite Microfluidics

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http://www.dolomite-microfluidics.com

SEMTech Solutions opens new FE-SEM services laboratory

gbrake — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:07:01 +0000

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SEMTech Solutions, an established provider of reconditioned Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEMs), has recently hired Dr. Ernest T. Dobi to manage its new Field Emission (FE) SEM services laboratory.

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The laboratory is equipped with two FE-SEMs. The first FE-SEM will be primarily used for its analytical capabilities that include an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer and a Back Scattered Electron detector, as well as providing Secondary Electron Imaging. The second FE-SEM, a 3-D metrology system from Elionix in Japan, can measure surface height roughness profiles ranging from 1 nm to several hundred microns. The Elionix system is targeted at metallurgical companies where an AFM has trouble measuring large surface roughness height deviations or wide lateral measurement fields.

“The benefits of our SEM services laboratory will be to provide companies with a cost effective solution,” states Gerry O’Loughlin, SEMTech Solutions president. “By being able to tap into Dr. Dobi’s vast knowledge and experience, customers will be getting additional outside consultation in terms of best SEM practices.”

SEMTech Solutions’ existing refurbished SEM customer base ranges from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. The applications of these companies vary widely from materials analysis to semiconductors to life sciences.
Companies that are interested in SEM services should contact Dr. Dobi directly at edobi@semtechsolutions.com, or by phone at (978) 663-9822 x232.

SEMTech Solutions is located at 6 Executive Park Drive, North Billerica, MA 01862, www.semtechsolutions.com.

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Soil Association bans same nanoparticles as found in leading brands

JohnT — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:59:50 +0000

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Leading cosmetics brands, including Boots, Lancome and L’Oreal, are using nanomaterials (in selected products) that the Soil Association (SA) has today announced it has banned

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Leading cosmetics brands, including Boots, Lancome and L’Oreal, are using nanomaterials (in selected products) that the Soil Association (SA) has today announced it has banned in all its certified organic products, due to safety concerns.

From this month, the ban applies particularly to health and beauty products, but also to food and textiles. The SA is the first organisation in the world to take action against nanotechnology.

A 2004 report, commissioned by the Government, recommended; the release of nanoparticles should be ‘avoided as far as possible’, labelling of consumer products, and that research be conducted into the toxicity of nanoparticles and nanotubes.

Despite agreeing with the report’s conclusions, no regulations have been adopted. A voluntary industry labelling scheme is being developed, with which the SA is involved, but under a voluntary scheme, no label doesn’t guarantee no nano.

While the SA recognises there may be benefits from nanotechnology - in the area of medicine for example - some initial studies have shown negative effects. Research has shown that nano-sized titanium dioxide - which makes the sunscreen transparent and therefore more marketable - ‘might be toxic to various types of cell’, can enter the brain and may trigger cell death.

Professor Vyvyan Howard, nanotechnology researcher at University of Ulster, said: ‘The term nanotechnology covers a vast range of applications. Many are not threatening at all, such as nano-structured surfaces for self cleaning glass. But in the areas of health and beauty and food more research must be done. There is considerable evidence that nanoparticles are toxic and potentially hazardous.’

Gundula Azeez, Soil Association policy manager, believes: ‘There should be an immediate freeze on the commercial release of nanomaterials until there is a sound body of scientific research into all the health impacts. As we saw with GM, the government is ignoring the initial indications of risk and giving the benefit of the doubt to commercial interest rather than the protection of human health.’

The race for nano-patents in the technological-beauty market is on, and Nanomaterials are in many products, including:

L'Oreal 'Plenitude Revitalift' anti-wrinkle cream,

Lancome's Renergie Lift,

Almay's Clear Complexion Concealer,

Various Neutrogena cosmetics by Johnson and Johnson,

Olay's All Day Complete Care cream with UV protection,

Revlon's ColourStay range.

Nanotechnology is also widely used in sunscreens, including the popular Boots Soltan range.

There’s more info contained here about which products contain the penetrating technology.

We welcome the SA’s move to ban the particles, particularly in the absence of any other regulation, and would take the SA certified natural products over ‘advanced' skincare products - hazardous or not - any day.

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Gemma is a freelance journalist, passionate about environmental issues and social justice, she writes for various publications including Newconsumer.com, the Guardian and the Metro.

gemmaloveschocs@hotmail.com

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Cool Querky Eco Gadget Site

Admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:43:46 +0000

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Some cool innovations on show and changes daily. Some innovative, some funny, some unbelievable!
www.ecomoves.com

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Some cool innovations on show and changes daily. Some funny some unbelievable!
www.ecomoves.com

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Nanotechnology conferences in India 2008 NEW REPORT

utkarshasingh — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 06:44:29 +0000

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Nanotechnology conferences in India 2008

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U-Shu Nanotech has released the list of conferences in India for 2008. Please visit www.indiananotechnology.com for a copy of the free report. Please do check out other reports related to nanotechnology in India.

Nanotechnology : News

Your interpretations of nanotechnology

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The Latest Nanotechnolgy News Snips From Around The World. - CLICK HERE

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Once bitten ...

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Ending drunk-driving deaths is in sight, experts say

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Vitamin E Could Help 40% of Diabetics Ward off Heart Attacks According to the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology

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H2OIL Corporation Announces Nanotechnology " eeFuel Saver" for the American Market

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