Foresight Nanotech Weekly News Digest: August 3, 2005

FORESIGHT NANOTECH INSTITUTE
WEEKLY NEWS DIGEST
August 3, 2005
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In this issue:

- Foresight Nanotechnology Challenges - Related News & Events
- Advanced Nanotech Conference - Floyd Kvamme Keynote & Do the Math
- Spotlight on Foresight Members - Corporate Member - NaturalNano
- Foresight Partners
- Nanotech News & Events

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FORESIGHT NANOTECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES

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Foresight has articulated six critical challenges that humanity faces which can
be addressed by nanotechnology. In the Weekly News Digest we identify
news items, research breakthroughs, and events citing current research and
applications providing the stepping stones to solutions to these challenges:

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1. Meeting global energy needs with clean solutions

Foresight Note: This article doesn't mention a power source but references
technology with the potential to make construction materials self-cleaning.

Headline: Smog fight aided by self-cleaning materials
News source: The Washington Post by Karl Ritter, UPI

In a test in 2003, the company coated 75,000 square feet of road surface on
the outskirts of Milan with photocatalytic cement. It found nitrogen oxide
levels were reduced by up to 60 percent, depending on weather conditions.

A similar experiment in France found nitrogen oxide levels were 20 percent to
80 percent lower in a wall plastered with photocatalytic cement than one with
regular cement.

Encouraged by such results, the European Union last year earmarked $2.27
billion for a project to develop "smart" construction materials that would
break down nitrogen oxides and other toxic substances, such as benzene.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/21/AR2005072101153.html

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2. Providing abundant clean water globally

Foresight note: Israeli University creates prototype device that is quick,
portable and evaluates water toxicity

Headline: Bacteria drive biochip sensor
News source: Technology Research News

Researchers are working to connect living cells to computer chips to gain the
best of both worlds. Living cells are terrific sensors, and can also be used to
evaluate and emulate biological behavior, while electronics are exemplary at
serving up data. Researchers from Tel Aviv University in Israel have built an
electrochemical nano-biochip that detects toxic water.

http://www.trnmag.com/Stories/2005/072705/Bacteria_drive_biochip_sensor_Brief_072705.html

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3. Increasing the health and longevity of human life

Foresight note: Two stories this week for Foresight Nanotechnology
Challenge #3, both feature carbon nanotubes.

Stanford unveils targeted cancer treatment, and University of California,
Riverside envisions growing bones

Headline: Nanotech used to target, kill cancer cells
News source: San Jose Mercury News by Lisa M. Krieger

Nanotechnology, long used in electronics, is being enlisted to improve cancer
treatment. Chemistry professor Hongjie Dai and his graduate student, Nadine
Kam, have found a micro-targeted way to kill cancer cells while preserving
healthy cells.

In simplest terms, the approach uses a thin beam of light to strike objects in
cancer cells, killing them. It exploits the tendency of things to behave
differently at the ``nano,'' or one-billionth, scale.

So far, it has been tested only in individual cells, not in animals or people.
The
approach is at least three to four years away from clinical testing in patients,
Dai said.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/12284399.htm

Professor Hongjie Dai website
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/chemistry/faculty/dai/group/

Headline: Nano Bones
News source: ScienCentralNews

Every year, millions of Americans injure a joint or break a bone. Now, as this
ScienCentral News video explains, one researcher says that instead of
replacing bone, he has found a material that might help bone grow back:
"...materials scientist Robert Haddon of the University of California,
Riverside and his team hope to someday grow bone back -- using carbon
nanotubes."

Follow this link to article and video download
http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?article_id=218392609

Professor Robert Haddon website
http://www.engr.ucr.edu/faculty/chemenv/haddon.html

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4. Maximizing the productivity of agriculture

Foresight note: Potential nanocomposite use in food packaging and
automotive industry at Wayne State University spin-out company.

Headline: NSF Awards Grant to Wayne State
News source: Small Times.com

nanoScience Engineering Corporation (nESC), a Wayne State University
spin-out company, has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research
grant of nearly $100,000 from the National Science Foundation.

The award, "SBIR Phase I: Supercritical Fluid Processing of Polymer/Clay
Nanocomposites," aims to develop a manufacturing process to achieve
superior properties of nano-structured composite materials.

http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=9619&keyword=NSF&summary=1&startsum=1

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5. Making powerful information technology available everywhere

Foresight note: Veeco Instruments and Picogiga International team up to
speed volume of Advance Gallium Nitride (GaN)-on-Silicon substrates for
commercialization. Check research link at bottom about GaN Nanowire
research at Berkeley for background.

Headline; Veeco and Picogiga International to Advance Gallium Nitride
(GaN)-on-Silicon Technology
News source: Azonano.com

Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will team to create the
first industrial MBE reactor optimized for use on Picogiga's patented GaN-on
silicon process. To speed this endeavor, engineers from Picogiga International
will share their expertise in GaN MBE technology with Veeco's MBE system
experts. The initial work will take place in Veeco's Process Integration Center
in Saint Paul, Minn. Upon completion, the new GEN200(TM) system will be
delivered and installed at Picogiga's production facility in Les Ulis, France-
enabling the company to produce up to 6-inch GaN-on-silicon epi wafers.

http://www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=1173

Berkeley nanowire research:
http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/MSD-nanowires.html

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6. Enabling the development of space

Foresight note: NASA's Center for Nanotech is scheduled to demonstrate a
chemical sensor they developed using (surprise) nanotubes on mission into
space aboard a Navy rocket.

Headline: The Next Giant Leap in Space Exploration
The science of nanotechnology could lead to radical improvements for space
exploration.
News source: RedNova

When it comes to taking the next "giant leap" in space exploration, NASA is
thinking small -- really small.

In laboratories around the country, NASA is supporting the burgeoning
science of nanotechnology. The basic idea is to learn to deal with matter at the
atomic scale -- to be able to control individual atoms and molecules well
enough to design molecule-size machines, advanced electronics and "smart"
materials.

If visionaries are right, nanotechnology could lead to robots you can hold on
your fingertip, self-healing spacesuits, space elevators and other fantastic
devices. Some of these things may take 20+ years to fully develop; others are
taking shape in the laboratory today.

http://www.rednova.com/news/display/?id=194741&source=r_space

NASA vision for space exploration
http://www.nasa.gov/missions/solarsystem/explore_main.html

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ADVANCING BENEFICIAL NANOTECHNOLOGY:
Focusing on the Cutting Edge
13th Foresight Conference on Advanced Nanotechnology
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October 22-27, 2005
San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel
http://www.foresight.org/conference2005/index.html

Early Registration Discount - deadline September 1, 2005

Customize your conference experience - Choose the days and sessions that
provide the kind of nanotechnology information and contacts you seek.
Foresight Nanotech Institute offers an "a la carte" conference so you can
select the days that are most valuable to you. Or attend all six days and
receive a comprehensive overview: from Vision, through current Applications
and Policy work, to Research on the cutting edge of advanced
nanotechnology.

Updated program:
http://www.foresight.org/conference2005/program.html

To register:
http://foresight.org/conference2005/registration.html

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KEYNOTE - NANOTECHNOLOGY IS NOT LITTLE IN WASHINGTON

Floyd Kvamme, Co-Chair, President's Council of Advisors on Science and
Technology, and Partner, Kleiner Perkins
Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 9 a.m.

Link to complete program:
http://www.foresight.org/conference2005/program.html

Floyd Kvamme bio:
http://www.ostp.gov/PCAST/pcast-members2.html#kvamme

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DO THE MATH

Foresight Nanotech Institute's Participating Members receive deep discounts
to the Advancing Beneficial Nanotechnology conference. What you save in
registration pays for the membership.

If you are attending 3.5 days of the conference and register by September 1,
2005,
the registration fee is $695. If you become a Participating Member your price
is $495, and you receive additional membership benefits, including the
opportunity to attend the invitation-only Vision Weekend.

For a complete list of Participating Member benefits:
http://www.foresight.org/members/index.html

Participating Members can join online:
https://foresight.org/forms/php/donate.php

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SPOTLIGHT ON FORESIGHT MEMBERS:
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Foresight Nanotech Institute has updated its membership levels and added
new benefits. One of the new levels is the corporate membership. This week's
spotlight is on Foresight corporate member NaturalNano.

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CORPORATE MEMBER - NATURALNANO

Discovering, refining, and commercializing naturally occuring nanomaterials -
including halloysite nanotubes extracted from clay -- is the focus of
NaturalNano Inc. The company, headed by president Michael Riedlinger, has
identified more than 200 applications - including additives for polymers,
absorbent materials, specialty coatings, and electromagnetic interference
shielding. The benefits of these new forms of nanotubes include large
quantities available for commercial uses and the ability to provide precise,
controlled release of compounds stored inside the aluminosilicate nanotubes.
NaturalNano has also developed patent-pending technologies for separation
and classification processes for halloysite nanotubes and for many
applications that utilize this unique material.

NaturalNano http://www.naturalnano.com

To explore becoming a corporate member, contact Jillian Elliott,
jillian@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or +1 650 289 0860 ext 257.

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FORESIGHT PARTNERS

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If you attend or use any of our media partners' events or services, please tell
them you heard about it from Foresight Nanotech Institute.

August 8, 2005 - Field Hearing on the Commercialization of Nanotechnology
Hosted by Congressman Honda and House Science Committee
San Jose, California

The purpose of this field hearing is to address how technology transfer for
economic benefit can be improved and what the appropriate federal role
should be in nurturing the commercialization of nanotechnology research
advances. Witnesses include Dr. Clayton Teague, Dr. Bill Miller, Mr. Dhaval
Brahmbhatt, Mr. Rich Helfrich, Mr. R. Sean Randolf, and Mr. Andy Watson.

The event is free and open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to Noon at the San
Jose City College Theater. Please RSVP to Michael.Wang@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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August 21-23, 2005 - Targeted Nanodelivery for Therapeutics and Molecular
Imaging
Sponsored by Cambridge Healthtech Institute
Washington, D.C.

The goal of targeted therapeutics is to create drugs that by the specificity of
their design and delivery will be more effective in treating disease and less
toxic. Nanotechnology offers the possibility of a device and a drug in one,
with novel capabilities. This meeting will address the challenges in
implementing nanotechnology for drug delivery systems and imaging agents,
and promote dialogue between diagnostic and therapeutic development.
http://www.healthtech.com/2005/bms/index.asp

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NANOTECH EVENTS & NEWS:

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Article: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Funds Study to Examine Filter Efficiency for Nanoscale Particles
News source: Occupation Hazards.com by Josh Cable

Some see the field of nanotechnology as having the potential to yield exciting
medical, environmental and consumer product breakthroughs. EHS
[environment, health and safety] stakeholders may very well share in that
excitement, but they also see some important unanswered questions pertaining
to the safety of the workers who are and could be exposed to nanomaterials.

A NIOSH-funded study being conducted by scientists at the University of
Minnesota aims to answer one of those questions: Will the same respirator
filters that protect against silica and other traditional airborne containments
be
sufficient to capture materials that can be tens of thousands of times smaller
than a single human hair?
http://www.occupationalhazards.com/articles/13821

For other nanotechnology resources at NIOSH:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/focus.html.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/faq.html.

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Article: Sub-angstrom microscope targets nanotechnology
News source: Electronic Engineering Times by R. Colin Johnson, EE Times

FEI Co. unveiled a new device at the Microscopy & Microanalysis conference
this week in Honolulu. FEI says its commercial instrument resolves at the sub-
angstrom scale for the first time. Designed for nanotechnology development,
FEI's microscope, called the Titan 80-300, enables sub-angstrom (atomic
scale) imaging and analysis.

Vahe Sarkissian, FEI's chairman and CEO, called the microscope "a
significant breakthrough for researchers, developers and manufacturers
needing greater access to the nanoscale."

http://www.eetasia.com/ART_8800373356_480700_b54f687f_no.HTM

FEI Company http://www.feicompany.com/

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August 22-25, 2005 - Course: New Electronic Materials for Extending Moore's Law
Palo Alto, California
Sponsored by Stanford University
http://scpd.stanford.edu/SCPD/courses/proed/institute/mooreDetail.htm

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August 28-September 1, 2005 - ACS National Meeting & Exposition
Washington, DC
Sponsored by the American Chemical Society
http://acswebcontent.acs.org/nationalmeeting/dc05/home.html

Includes short course:
Designing Novel Advanced Materials Using Molecular Structure-Property
Relationships

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