There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom

The idea of nanotechnology (although he did not call it nanotechnology) started when Richard Feynman (1959) gave a talk at Caltech called “There’s plenty of room at the bottom”.

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Feynman suggested the “possibility of maneuvering things atom by atom” and “if we go down far enough, all our devices can be mass produced so that they are perfect copies of one another.”

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He also assisted in the development of the atomic bomb, and later went on to become a joint recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965 for his work in quantum electrodynamics.

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**If you enjoyed this post please also check out:

What is nanotechnology?
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History of Nanotechnology
.
Nanotechnology - risks and benefits

Nanotechnology and Climate Change

COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME !!
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So please, tell us what you think.

Nanotechnology and Climate Change

Here is a new report (from the United Nations University) called “Innovation in Responding to Climate Change: Nanotechnology, Ocean Energy and Forestry” by Miguel Esteban, Christian Webersik, David Leary and Dexter Thompson-Pomeroy .

This report offers three innovative solutions in responding to climate change, namely nanotechnology, ocean energy and forestry. It goes beyond the technological, biological and procedural aspects of these solutions by critically assessing the opportunities and challenges that each type of innovation presents. This report addresses the question why these innovations - despite their large potential to reduce emissions, ocean energy alone could cover the world's electricity needs - have not yet reached the stage of mass commercialization.
UNU-IAS, November 2008, 46 pages

The section on nanotechnology (pages 10-18) is worth a read.
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It examines:

• What is nanotechnology;
• The main fields of nanotechnology R&D and commercialisation relevant to climate change mitigation;
• Nanotechnology and the hydrogen economy;
• Nanotechnology, solar power and photovoltaics,
• Nanotechnology and energy storage (the next generation of batteries);
• regulatory implications of the use of nanotechnolgy in new climate change mitigation technologies; and
• Further research required on the role of nanotechnology in responding to climate change.

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**If you enjoyed this post please also check out:

What is nanotechnology?
.
History of Nanotechnology
.
Nanotechnology - risks and benefits

Nanotechnology and Climate Change

COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME !!
.
So please, tell us what you think.

Some Australian Nanotechnology Information

Here is some great information on Australian nanotechnolgy from the Australian Government (Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research):

• Including a new report on Australian community attitudes on nanotechnology;
• Some great links to some background information on nanotechnology; and
• Details of how to contact the Gene and Nanotechnology Information Service (for all you nano-needs).

Community Awareness Survey

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On 4 August 2008, the Government released the "Australian Community Attitudes Held about Nanotechnology – Trends 2005-2008" report.

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This public awareness survey was commissioned to assess the Australian public's knowledge of and views about nanotechnology. This report compares changes of attitudes from 2005 and 2007 to 2008, and demonstrates that since then, the number of respondents who see the benefits of nanotechnology as outweighing the risks has increased from 39% to 53%, among other key findings.
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A summary of the key points in the public attitude study can be downloaded here.

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Background nanotechnology information

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Nanotechnology - working with the smallest things

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Measurement challenges in nanotechnology
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NICNAS Information Sheet on Nanomaterials
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Small Particles, Nanotechnology and Food
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CSIRO Nanoparticles Information Sheet
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Journey into the nano-world

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Nanotechnology (Freecall within Australia) Information Service

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The Gene and Nanotechnology Information Service provides a freecall information service for any enquiries about nanotechnology, or can be accessed by email. The Service, a partnership with the University of Melbourne, also provides outreach activities, such as expert speakers for schools and community groups and public displays. (Website under development).

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1800 631 276 or email gtis-australia@unimelb.edu.au

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Media Releases

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Also available is a list of the Australian Office of Nanotechnology's Nano related media releases

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**If you enjoyed this post please also check out:

What is nanotechnology?
.
History of Nanotechnology
.
Nanotechnology - risks and benefits

Nanotechnology in New South Wales

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Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making
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COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME !!
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So please, tell us what you think.

UK and US attitudes to nanotechnology

Here is a new study that shows "People In The U.S. And The U.K. Show Strong Similarities In Their Attitudes Toward Nanotechnologies". Interesting that people focus more on the benefits of nanotechnology than the risks. I would have thought that people living in the UK might be more aware of the risks of nanotechnology than people living in the US, because I was living in the UK during BSE and Foot and Mouth disease outbreaks and believe me, the media and the opposition party ensured that the public were well aware of the failings of government to regulate effectively to ensure food was indeed 'safe'. I also noticed that there was also a lot of public debate going on at the time about the safety of GM foods (both in the UK and Europe). Although I am not sure about the levels of debate on the GM food issue in the US.

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Anyway, here is a link to the full news article called "People In The U.S. And The U.K. Show Strong Similarities In Their Attitudes Toward Nanotechnologies" from Science Daily. The abstract is here on Nature Nanotechnology (advanced online edition) - although I will have to wait for the normal on-line edition to read the full thing (maybe a week).

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The results include the following key findings:

• Overall participants in both countries focused on the benefits rather than the risks of nanotechnologies, and also exhibited a high degree of optimism regarding the future contribution of new technologies to society. This pattern was very similar in the workshops in both the United States and Britain.

• Some small cross-country differences were present. U.K. participants were generally more aware of recent technological controversies and risk governance failures (examples include genetically modified organisms, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and foot and mouth disease), leading some to voice specific concerns about future nanotechnology risks.

The study also found that people were more likely to be positive about nanotechnology used for energy projects, than when it is used for medical purposes. This makes sense to me, because people will tend to be more concerned with risks that seem to relate more directly to themselves and their family and friends - like health concerns - rather than worry about more psychologically distant things like the risks of energy nanotechnology.

**If you enjoyed this post please also check out:

What is nanotechnology?
.
History of Nanotechnology
.
Nanotechnology - risks and benefits

Nanotechnology and Climate Change

COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME !!
.
So please, tell us what you think.

Eric Drexler has a blog called Metamodern

I have recently discovered that Eric Drexler has started a blog called Metamodern - The Trajectory of Technology.

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Drexler is the author of Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology and Nanosystems Molecular Machinery Manufacturing and Computation. He also coined the term 'grey goo' - out of control self-replicating nanotechnology robots.

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from Metamodern:

My main focus will be on research progress, largely in nanoscience and technology, and often with a special perspective: how current research is applicable to the development of advanced nanosystems. I’ve found that a system-building perspective can highlight research opportunities that might otherwise be missed. I’ll sometimes suggest specific research objectives that seem practical, valuable, and ready for work.

However, Metamodern isn’t intended to be “a blog about nanotechnology”; its scope includes broader issues involving technologies with world-changing potential. For example, looking well downstream in technology development, I will sketch the requirements for large-scale systems able to restore the atmosphere to its pre-industrial composition.

**It should be worth a read - although some of the early posts do look a bit too complex for 'joe the plumber' or his friend 'joe six-pack' to read.

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p.s. I tried to leave a comment but it seems that "Comments on this entry are closed"
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**If you enjoyed this post please also check out:

What is nanotechnology?
.
History of Nanotechnology
.
Nanotechnology - risks and benefits

Nanotechnology and Climate Change

COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME !!
.
So please, tell us what you think.

Nanotechnology in New South Wales

I was looking for some information on the state of play with regard to nanotechnology in Australia and I found this (although it has no link or date - the nanotechnology enquiry was established in December 2007) .

Nanotechnology Risks and Benefits to Come under Scrutiny by Parliamentary Inquiry in Australia by NSW State Government

As part of its continuing efforts to better understand the potential risks and benefits associated with nanotechnology, the NSW Government has initiated a parliamentary inquiry into this relatively new field of scientific endeavour – becoming the first Australian state or territory to do so.

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter at the atomic or molecular level – lengths equivalent to 1/100,000th the diameter of a human hair.

Minister for Science and Medical Research Verity Firth said nanotechnology has the very real potential to transform many sectors of the NSW economy, leading to new products, new businesses, new jobs and even new industries.

“Nanotechnology offers the promise of breakthroughs that will revolutionise the way we detect and treat disease; monitor and protect the environment; and produce and store energy,” said Ms Firth.

“But before the technology’s full potential can be released, safety and ethical concerns need to be assessed by governments.”

Some groups have already raised anxieties about the technology’s possible negative implications for human health and the natural environment.

“That’s why I’ve written to the Legislative Council's Standing Committee for State Development asking it to investigate the potential environmental, health, safety, legal and ethical implications or uncertainties that may arise from the development and use of nano-material and products,” said Ms Firth.

“As the use of man-made nano-materials become more common, we want to make sure they will not have unexpected consequences for people or the environment.

“The inquiry will seek to reassure the community as well as make sure the Government’s regulatory arrangements are both adequate and appropriate.

“Ultimately we want a balanced and informed approach to nanotechnology.”

Source

Anyway, I thought I should see if the final report had been released yet. It has!! Here it is "Nanotechnology in New South Wales". It was released in October 2008. I am going to have a look at it tonight (should be good reading). Hopefully a few posts will follow - I will report back soon.

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Also check out:

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Some Australian Nanotechnology Information

**If you enjoyed this post please also check out:

What is nanotechnology?
.
History of Nanotechnology
.
Nanotechnology - risks and benefits

Nanotechnology and Climate Change

COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME !!
.
So please, tell us what you think.