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Archive for the 'Nanotech' Category

Shear-activated nanoparticles may target blood clots

Posted by Jim Lewis on August 16th, 2012

Studies in mice with otherwise fatal blood clots have shown that targeting a clot-busting drug to regions where blood flow is blocked restores circulation and increases survival with a much lower, safer dose of the drug.

Foresight at Singularity University and in CNBC documentary

Posted by Jim Lewis on August 13th, 2012

From Desiree D. Dudley, Foresight Director of Development and Outreach: 1)Foresighters Christine Peterson and Desiree Dudley will be speaking at NASA-Ames’ Singularity University this Monday night, August 13th, from 8-10pm. Presentations are from 8-9, and a Q&A panel with H+’s Amy Li and SU’s Jose Cordiero 9-10pm! Topics will include nanotech, biotech, life-extension, and our [...]

Toward a method to design any needed catalyst?

Posted by Jim Lewis on August 6th, 2012

Computational insights into a fundamental organic synthesis reaction may lead to the ability to design a catalyst for any desired reaction.

Artificial evolution of enzymes to make novel semiconductors

Posted by Jim Lewis on August 3rd, 2012

The directed, artificial evolution of genes for enzymes that produce nanoparticles of silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide produced semiconductor structures not seen in nature.

Nanozyme destroys virus in human cells and in mice

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 30th, 2012

Nanotechnology combines an enzyme and a DNA molecule on the surface of gold nanoparticles to destroy hepatitis C virus in human cells and in a mouse model of disease.

3D printers as universal chemistry sets for nanotechnology

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 26th, 2012

Researchers have configured a 3D printer as an inexpensive, automated discovery platform for synthetic chemistry. A road to more complex molecular building blocks for nanotechnology?

NANOYOU video introduces nanotechnology to students and others

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 23rd, 2012

A European Commission-funded video and education portal introduces nanotechnology to students and others.

New online game to design RNA molecules: advancing nanotechnology?

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 16th, 2012

A new online game allows players to design RNA molecules. The most promising designs are synthesized, and the players given real-world feedback on how well their designs worked.

SAVE THE DATE: The 2013 Foresight Technical Conference

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 12th, 2012

The 2013 Foresight Technical Conference: Illuminating Atomic Precision will be held January 11-13, 2013 in Palo Alto, CA USA.

Atomically precise nanoparticle provides better drug delivery

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 10th, 2012

Nanoparticles made from specific DNA and RNA strands, homogeneous in size, composition, and surface chemistry, proved superior to other nanoparticles in silencing gene expression in tumors in mouse experiments.

Nanotechnology and the rest of the universe

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 4th, 2012

A forest of long DNA strands hanging at known positions from a thin gold foil may provide a method to detect hypothetical particles of dark matter, thought to compose 26% of the universe.

Nanomachines and molecular motors can make use of thermal noise

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 3rd, 2012

A theoretical study shows that although thermal noise cannot be used to produce useful motion by mesoscale or macroscale machines, it can be used by nanoscale machines without violating the second law of thermodynamics.

An expanded genetic alphabet could lead to more easily designed proteins

Posted by Jim Lewis on June 22nd, 2012

The demonstration that the process of DNA replication is more flexible than thought should make it easier to incorporate unusual amino acids into designed proteins, which might make it easier to design novel protein machines.

Nanotechnology greatly improves sensitivity of common medical tests

Posted by Jim Lewis on June 21st, 2012

A new nanomaterial provides a three million-fold improvement in the sensitivity of common medical tests, potentially permitting earlier detection of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Individual atoms resolved within nanoparticle comprising several grains

Posted by Jim Lewis on June 20th, 2012

Current methods can image individual atoms in complex structures if the structures are crystalline, comprising many identical structures in a regular array. A new method resolves individual atoms in nanoparticles comprising several irregularly arranged crystalline grains.

New method to identify intermediates in protein folding

Posted by Jim Lewis on June 12th, 2012

Tryptophan residues introduced at various positions in a protein chain identify folding intermediates that are too short-lived to be structurally characterized otherwise.

Advancing nanotechnology with protein building blocks

Posted by Jim Lewis on June 6th, 2012

A variety of protein cage structures have been constructed by designing specific protein domains to self-assemble as atomically precise protein building blocks in defined geometries.

Foresight Institute at Space Frontier Conference

Posted by Jim Lewis on June 4th, 2012

How and how soon will nanotechnology play a role in space commercialization?

DNA tiles provide faster, less expensive way to fabricate complex DNA objects

Posted by Jim Lewis on May 31st, 2012

A set of 310 short single-stranded DNA tiles, plus a few additional short sequences for the edges, has been used to form more than a hundred large, complex DNA objects.

Carbon nanotube graphene composite improves downhill bike rim

Posted by Jim Lewis on May 26th, 2012

Zyvex Technologies and ENVE Composites have demonstrated the superiority of a proprietary nanostructured composite in downhill cycling.