An interesting news update courtesy of Nanowerk News – House representative David Wu has introduced a Nanotechnology Education Act to US Congress that seeks to encourage U.S. students into the field of nanotechnology research and engineering.
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Tag Archive: nanotechnology
10 sectors to watch over the next decade
To mark the end of 2009 and the beginning of the new upcoming decade, I wanted to bring you a series of posts that will look at the sectors of knowledge, technology and human progress that are going to see some astounding changes throughout the upcoming years. These sectors will be at the forefront of what will be seen as progress, and will more than likely change our lives so drastically that we will have difficulty reconciling the new existence with the one that we are currently living within.
Friday Link Roundup (on Monday): Scientific Advancement
As our Site of the Week last week was the Scientific American website, the link roundup will be focusing upon recent scientific advancements and progress. Rather than pointing to articles that are very conceptual or too hypothetical, I wanted to highlight some recent studies and events that point to solid findings or breakthroughs.
Report: Nanoparticles found in most cosmetic brands
Friends of the Earth in Australia have claimed that the majority of major cosmetic brands in the country are using nanoparticles in their products without adequate labeling or testing.
Centre for Nano Safety opens today in Edinburgh
Today marks the official launch of the Centre for Nano Safety based at Edinburgh Napier University. Given the discussions that have already taken place here about the need for tighter regulation and safety protocols in regards to the commercial use of nanotechnology and nanomaterials, this is a fantastic step in the right direction.
EU consumer organisations launch nanotechnology inventory
The European Consumers’ Organisation (BEUC) and the European consumer voice in standardisation (ANEC) have just published a list of products sold in the EU that contain nanomaterials. The move comes as a reaction to what they perceive as a lack of safety regulation and precautions in what is still a field with unknown impacts on consumers.
Nanotechnology and the social implications of immortality
There has been some renewed interest again by various online media outlets about the use of nanotechnology to greatly extend the human lifespan. It has even been said by some futurist commentators that the possibility is there for such advances to be made within the next 30 or 40 years.
District 9: Future ethics through alien eyes
Science fiction has always been a bastion for social commentary, and the latest cinematographic effort in the form of District 9 is no different. By planting the action in an accurate real-world setting, with believable motivations and agendas from all parties involved, the mirror is once more held up to our social conscience – and the result is anything but flattering.
Deaths linked to nanotechnology in China
There has been a recent high-profile case involving the death and injury of a number of Chinese workers who were involved in the production of materials that used nanoparticles.
Nanofoods, coming soon to a store near you
The big debates about technologically enhanced food usually surround the use of genetic modification, but most of us aren’t as familiar with the concept of nanofood. Which is unfortunate and needs to be quickly rectified, because within the next few years we are about to see a huge boom in its commercial availability on store shelves.
