Today’s nanotechnology is just the beginning of what will be possible from atomically-precise devices and systems, but already we’re seeing some impressive claims for early nanotech: Researchers have developed a low-cost, low-power computer memory that could put terabyte-sized thumb drives in consumers’ pockets within a few years. Thanks to a new technique for manipulating charged [...]

If you are planning to attend this year’s Foresight Vision Weekend Unconference in Silicon Valley this weekend, now is definitely the time to register, since registration closes today at 4 PM Pacific time. After that, you will need to phone Alicia Isaac at +1 (650) 289 0860 ext 254 or email her at foresight@foresight.org to [...]

Various kinds of nanotechnology are being worked on in China, but one of the most important on the pathway to a general ability to build with atomic precision is what is called functional supramolecular systems. We at Foresight wish we could all have been in Beijing on Oct. 21-24 for the Xiangshan Science Conference on [...]

Getting experimental results in nanotechnology can be a long, hard slog — those doing this work need and deserve inspiration. Beautiful nanoscale images — both of current results and future designs — can help. Damian Allis shows us some of his own images in his post about a new nanoscale art/gallery site called Nanohedron. From [...]

A draft version of the Productive Nanosystems Roadmap was distributed to attendees at the similarly-named conference (PDF) in DC on Oct. 9-10. Now participants at the Foresight Vision Weekend will be critiquing and planning expansions of this first roadmap for atomically-precise manufacturing. IMPORTANT: REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS 4 PM, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31. In addition to the [...]

Perhaps our headline is a bit overstated…or perhaps not. Jim Lewis brings to our attention an article in Chemistry World on the Royal Society of Chemistry website announcing that, as anticipated, the UK has officially funded a set of projects aimed at developing a nanofactory able to build with atomic precision: UK scientists have been [...]

Registration for Foresight’s Nov. 3-4 Vision Weekend focused on nanotechnology and other advanced technologies — traditionally restricted to Foresight Senior Associates — is being opened to the general public this year as an experiment. Space is limited and participants are advised to register very soon. To warm up for our Sat/Sun afternoon unconference, in the [...]

There’s an arms race between government patent offices and patent filers assisted by private law firms. The folks who work for the former get paid a lot less than the those who work for the latter. This leads to a continual drain away from government review of patent applications toward private generation of patent applications. [...]

MSNBC brings news of a new nanotechnology achievement at University of Michigan: Nanotech produces plastic as strong as steel Researchers mimic structures found in seashells, using clay and glue By mimicking structures found in seashells, scientists have created a transparent plastic that is as strong as steel… Kotov and his colleagues have devised a process [...]

This year as an experiment we are opening up a subset of seats at the Nov. 3-4 Foresight Vision Weekend to members of special groups such as Nanodot readers. The event is usually open only to Foresight Senior Associate members: http://www.foresight.org/SrAssoc/2007 I encourage you to check out this event. Since it is an Unconference, you [...]

We at Foresight are just returned from this week’s Productive Nanosystems Conference where the Foresight Institute Feynman Prizes in Nanotechnology were awarded. Didn’t win this year? First, remember to re-apply next year. But you can also go after another nanotech prize: The International Society for Nanoscale Science, Computation, and Engineering (ISNSCE) is soliciting nominations for [...]

Mike Treder brings this to our attention: Today and tomorrow, CRN is reporting on presentations at an important conference on Productive Nanosystems: Launching the Technology Roadmap. Chris Phoenix is providing live blog coverage for us… I checked this out and Chris is indeed blogging the conference heavily. If you can’t be here with us, reading [...]

Feynman Prizes Awarded by Foresight Nanotech Institute Nanotechnology Think Tank Honors Top Researchers, Author and Student Palo Alto, CA – October 9, 2007 – Foresight Nanotech Institute, the leading think tank and public interest organization focused on nanotechnology, awarded prizes to leaders in research, communication and study in the field of nanotechnology at the Productive [...]

[UPDATE: see the comments for some skepticism about this product.] Normally we only expect insulation to save energy, not generate it. Now a nanotechnology-based coating will move the state-of-the-art to the second category, as brought to our attention by Meridian: U.S. company Industrial Nanotech, Inc. is developing a thermal insulation material that can use the [...]

Some MIT nanotechnology activities are targeted at alumni, but you may be able to get in the door at a higher price: It’s a Small World November 15, 2007 MIT Alumni Association, in conjunction with regional Clubs, is planning two webcasts and receptions for alumni in Cambridge and around the world for the upcoming year. [...]

Registration is now open to new and renewing Senior Associate members; cost for Senior Associate members to attend the meeting is $65. Space is limited. Join us! —Christine 1st Foresight Unconference to Be Held November 3-4 in Silicon Valley Event will explore nanotechnology, advanced software, life extension, future technologies Palo Alto, CA — Foresight Nanotech [...]

Over at the CRN website they have a guest post by author David Brin on nanotechnology ethics: What I find relentlessly tedious (and, alas, ubiquitous) is the tendency to assume that the objective is actually to see ahead. It is not. The objective is to do what Einstein called gedankenexperimentation: pondering the range of possibilities [...]