Clipmarks | Silkweaver's 'nanotechnology' clips

US citizens weigh in on nanotechnology for human enhancement

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:13:34 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: Highly important and interesting read.

In March 2008, eighty-six people across six nationwide panels participated in the National Citizens’ Technology Forum on “Human Enhancement Through Nanotechnology.” These citizens ranged from teens to seniors and had no previous expertise or experience in nanotechnology. They studied background material, met face-to-face, and participated in nine, two-hour Internet discussion forums with scientist experts. During their final meeting, each panel wrote a Citizen’s Report that outlines their optimism, concerns and recommendations regarding human enhancement technologies.

The reports address socio-economic, safety, environmental, health and governance issues, as well as regulatory challenges and human identity concerns. This project gives average citizens a voice in the early stages of nano-scale science and engineering research and development.

Clip Source: www4.ncsu.edu

Arizona Final Report

California Final Report

Colorado Final Report

Georgia Final Report

New Hampshire Final Report

Wisconsin Final Report

Tags: human enhancement, public debate

Complete Radio Created from a Single Carbon Nanotube

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:46:24 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: Now to a new theological conundrum: How many radios can fit on a pinhead ?

Clip Source: www.physics.berkeley.edu

We have constructed a fully functional, fully integrated radio receiver, orders-of-magnitude smaller than any previous radio, from a single carbon nanotube.

The single nanotube serves, at once, as all major components of a radio: antenna, tuner, amplifier, and demodulator.

Moreover, the antenna and tuner are implemented in a radically different manner than traditional radios, receiving signals via high frequency mechanical vibrations of the nanotube rather than through traditional electrical means.

We have already used the nanotube radio to receive and play music from FM radio transmissions such as Layla by Eric Clapton (Derek and the Dominos) and the Beach Boy's Good Vibrations.

The nanotube radio's extremely small size could enable radical new applications such as radio controlled devices small enough to exist in the human bloodstream, or simply smaller, cheaper, and more efficient wireless devices such as cellular phones.

Tags: nanotechnology, nanotubes, radio

Quantum Computing Breakthrough Arises From Unknown Molecule

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:47:11 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver

Clip Source: www.sciencedaily.com

The odd behavior of a molecule in an experimental silicon computer chip has led to a discovery that opens the door to quantum computing in semiconductors.

In a Nature Physics journal paper currently online, the researchers describe how they have created a new, hybrid molecule in which its quantum state can be intentionally manipulated - a required step in the building of quantum computers.

"Up to now large-scale quantum computing has been a dream," says Gerhard Klimeck, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue University

"This development may not bring us a quantum computer 10 years faster, but our dreams about these machines are now more realistic."

"Our experiment made us realize that industrial electronic devices have now reached the level where we can study and manipulate the state of a single atom," Rogge says. "This is the ultimate limit, you can not get smaller than that."

Tags: physics, quantum theory, quantum computing, nanotechnology

Right and wrong lessons from biology

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:02:20 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: The opposite view stresses that evolution is an extremely effective way of searching parameter space, and that in consequence is that we should assume that biological design solutions are likely to be close to optimal for the environment for which they’ve evolved. Where these design solutions seem odd from our point of view, their unfamiliarity is to be ascribed to the different ways in which physics works at the nanoscale. At its most extreme, this view regards biological nanotechnology, not just as the existence proof for nanotechnology, but as an upper limit on its capabilities.

Clip Source: www.softmachines.org

The most compelling argument for the possibility of a radical nanotechnology, with functional devices and machines operating at the nano-level, is the existence of cell biology.

But one can take different lessons from this.

Drexler argued that we should expect to be able to do much better than cell biology if we applied the lessons of macroscale engineering, using mechanical engineering paradigms and hard materials.

My argument, though, is that this fails to take into account the different physics of the nanoscale, and that evolution has optimised biology’s “soft machines” for this environment.

The engineers’ view, if I can put it that way, is that nature shows what can be achieved with random design methods and a palette of unsuitable materials allocated by the accidents of history. If you take this point of view, it seems obvious that it should be fairly straightforward to make nanoscale machines whose performance vastly exceeds that of biology

Tags: nanotechnology, biology

Gene silencer and quantum dots reduce protein production to a whisper

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:04:25 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: Each quantum dot was surrounded by a proton sponge that carried a positive charge. Without any quantum dots attached, the siRNA's negative charge would prevent it from penetrating a cell's wall. With the quantum-dot chaperone, the more weakly charged siRNA complex crosses the cellular wall, escapes from the endosome (a fatty bubble that surrounds incoming material) and accumulates in the cellular fluid, where it can do its work disrupting protein manufacture.

Key to the newly published approach is that researchers can adjust the chemical makeup of the quantum dot's proton-sponge coating, allowing the scientists to precisely control how tightly the dots attach to the siRNA.

Quantum dots were dramatically better than existing techniques at stopping gene activity. In experiments, a cell's production of a test protein dropped to 2 percent when siRNA was delivered with quantum dots. By contrast, the test protein was produced at 13 percent to 51 percent of normal levels when the siRNA

Clip Source: uwnews.org

More than 15 years ago scientists discovered a way to stop a particular gene in its tracks.

The Nobel Prize-winning finding holds tantalizing promise for medical science, but so far it has been difficult to apply the technique, known as RNA interference, in living cells.

Now scientists at the University of Washington in Seattle and Emory University in Atlanta have succeeded in using nanotechnology known as quantum dots to address this problem.

Their technique is 10 to 20 times more effective than existing methods for injecting the gene-silencing tools, known as siRNA, into cells.

"We believe this is going to make a very important impact to the field of siRNA delivery,"

"This work helps to overcome the longstanding barrier in the siRNA field: How to achieve high silencing efficiency with low toxicity,"

The recent experiments used quantum dots, fluorescent balls of semiconductor material just six nanometers across (lining up 9,000 dots end to end would equal the width of a human hair).

Tags: molecular biology, quantum dots, rna inteference

Virtual Unreality (Part 1)

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:24:10 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: This speculation about virtual worlds, besides being fun, reflects on the very deep question of Freedom, freedom of the mind, that is. What is freedom? How much freedom can we really take? How are we going to be if and when we become free. Continue to the second part of this clip...

Clip Source: superconcepts.blogspot.com

In the future, we may decide that a virtual existence, a life inside a fully immersive computer game where our every desire is fulfilled, is a more appealing option than the real world we currently inhabit.

Since the early 21st century, the residents of the virtual world Second Life have been working hard to recreate real life as accurately as possible.

But virtual worlds are created by us – so why limit ourselves to reality? We could create entirely new realities.

By realising that we are free of the rules of real life, the doors are open to incredible new possibilities.

Virtual Concepts

Immortality

In Second Life, you cannot die.

Perfect History

It is entirely possible to record every action you perform in your virtual life

All of your memories can be put into the virtual world by means of screen grabs, videos and saved conversations.

Teleportation

Distance is not a real concept in virtual worlds, so can easily be circumvented.

Nanotechnology and the non-existence of the laws of thermodynamics

Tags: virtual reality

When Unusually Rapid Improvement Becomes Usual

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:28:53 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: Given the existing pressure on such social programs as Social Security and Medicare, I believe one implication of this “unusually rapid improvement” is that these systems will need to be radically overhauled in order to survive this new demographic reality.

Clip Source: www.memebox.com

It was reported last week that US life expectancy topped 78 years as a variety of diseases – including heart disease, diabetes and flu – decreased this past year.

More interestingly, life expectancy – which has been increasing about two or three months from year to year – jumped an impressive four months this year.

It was “an usually rapid improvement,” but I’d like to argue that such rapid improvements will become “usual” for the foreseeable future.

If one tracks the amazing rate of progress in biotechnology, genomics, stem cell research and nanotechnology; it is hard – barring a devastating calamity that kills thousands or millions of people – to envision how life expectancy will do anything but continue to increase at an accelerating rate.

It seems only prudent, therefore, that we should at least begin preparing for life expectancies in the neighborhood of 100 within the next few decades.

Tags: aging, accelerating change

Nanotechnology, Biomolecules And Light Unite To 'Cook' Cancer Cells

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:02:08 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver

Clip Source: www.sciencedaily.com

Researchers are testing a new way to kill cancer cells selectively by attaching cancer-seeking antibodies to tiny carbon tubes that heat up when exposed to near-infrared light.

Scientists are able to use biological molecules called monoclonal antibodies that bind to cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies can work alone or can be attached to powerful anti-cancer drugs, radionuclides or toxins to deliver a deadly payload to cancer cells.

In this study, the researchers used monoclonal antibodies that targeted specific sites on lymphoma cells to coat tiny structures called carbon nanotubes.

In cultures of cancerous lymphoma cells, the antibody-coated nanotubes attached to the cells' surfaces. When the targeted cells were then exposed to near-infrared light, the nanotubes heated up, generating enough heat to essentially "cook" the cells and kill them.

This was true even when the antibody-nanotube complex was placed in a setting designed to mimic conditions inside the human body.

Tags: nanotechnology, biotechnology, cancer

Scientific information largely ignored when forming opinions about stem cell research

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:41:34 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: This only show, how far we as a society and as individuals from establishing a minimal standard of critical thinking.

Clip Source: www.physorg.com

When forming attitudes about embryonic stem cell research, people are influenced by a number of things. But understanding science plays a negligible role for many people.

That's the surprising finding from a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison communications researchers who have spent the past two years studying public attitudes toward embryonic stem cell research.

"More knowledge is good - everybody is on the same page about that. But will that knowledge necessarily help build support for the science?"

"The data show that no, it doesn't. It does for some groups, but definitely not for others."

used national public opinion research to analyze how public attitudes are formed about controversial scientific issues such as nanotechnology and stem cells. What they have found again and again is that knowledge is much less important than other factors, such as religious values or deference to scientific authority.

Tags: public opinion, behavioral science

(No foreseen) Limits to AGI, brain computer interfaces, nanomedicine and nanorobots

Tue, 20 May 2008 11:02:48 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver

Clip Source: nextbigfuture.com

Some people scoff at mind uploading, human level or greater artificial intelligence or nanorobots that are able repair all damage to the human body

Here is a review of the current state of brain computer interfaces, brain simulation, and nanomedicine related medicine (cellular repair and rejuvenation) and science. I do not see anything stopping zettaflop level computers (one million times more powerful than the current best supercomputers). Zettaflop computers will enable human level brain simulations or greater.

Brain computer interfaces already exist in many forms and are able to restore and create memories.

There is nanoscale technology for precise delivery of drugs, genes and imaging agents into the cells of the human body and interaction with cells.

Adult cells have been rejuvenated

it appears that there is a path to those levels and that it is not unreasonable to expect those levels to be achieved.

Tags: agi, nanotechnology, nanomedicine

Personal nanofactories promise an end to poverty, war

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:54:44 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: Interesting!

Clip Source: memebox.com

Imagine a world with billions of desktop-size, nonpolluting, cheap machines that can manufacture almost anything – clothing, furniture, electronics, cars, even food. Today, such devices do not exist, but in the future, a small Star Trek-like replicator called a “personal nanofactory” (PN) will sit on your kitchen counter enabling you to create nearly anything your heart desires at little or no cost.

These incredible machines receive raw atoms from supplied chemicals or from something as inexpensive as dirt, air or water. Then, using Internet-delivered software, they instruct atoms to assemble into the final product; a sweater, refrigerator, health medicine, tonight’s dinner; even a duplicate PN.

In their latest book, Revolutionary Wealth, Alvin and Heidi Toffler argue convincingly that we are on the verge of a post-scarcity world that will slash poverty and “unlock countless opportunities and new life trajectories”.

Tags: nano technology, economics of abundance, nanotechnology

Nanoworms Find, Treat Cancer Tumors Much Better

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:54:26 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver

Clip Source: www.engineeringservicesoutsourcing.com

Scientists at UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and MIT have developed nanometer-sized “nanoworms” that can travel through the bloodstream and — like tiny anti-cancer missiles — zero in on tumors. These can circulate in the body for hours since they do not trigger the immune system.

These nanoworms, composed of magnetic iron oxide and coated with a polymer, are able to find and attach to tumors. The nanoworms are superparamagnetic and show up very well on MRIs.

Using these nanoworms, doctors could eventually be able to target and reveal the location of developing tumors that are too small to detect by conventional methods.

With the use of this nanoworms concept, researchers are developing chemical attachments that will help to reach specific targets in the body, and are adding drugs that would be released when these targets are reached.

The nanoworms concept was inspired by the discovery of a scientist

Tags: medicine, nanotechnology, cancer

The Hedonistic Imperative

Tue, 06 May 2008 01:34:35 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: This manifesto outlines a strategy to eradicate suffering in all sentient life. The abolitionist project is ambitious, implausible, but technically feasible. It is defended here on ethical utilitarian grounds. Genetic engineering and nanotechnology allow Homo sapiens to discard the legacy-wetware of our evolutionary past. Our post-human successors will rewrite the vertebrate genome, redesign the global ecosystem, and abolish suffering throughout the living world.

Clip Source: hedweb.com

The Hedonistic Imperative outlines how genetic engineering and nanotechnology will abolish suffering in all sentient life.

The abolitionist project is hugely ambitious but technically feasible. It is also instrumentally rational and morally urgent. The metabolic pathways of pain and malaise evolved because they served the fitness of our genes in the ancestral environment. They will be replaced by a different sort of neural architecture - a motivational system based on heritable gradients of bliss. States of sublime well-being are destined to become the genetically pre-programmed norm of mental health. It is predicted that the world's last unpleasant experience will be a precisely dateable event.

The feasibility of its abolition turns its deliberate retention into an issue of social policy and ethical choice.

Tags: the hedonistic imperative, transhumanism, transcendence

US researchers have built a proto-prototype nano assembler

Mon, 05 May 2008 01:21:16 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver

Clip Source: www.nanowerk.com

(Nanowerk News) The first real steps towards building a microscopic device that can construct nano machines have been taken by US researchers. Writing in the peer-reviewed publication, International Journal of Nanomanufacturing from Inderscience Publishers, researchers describe an early prototype for a nanoassembler.

In his 1986 book, The Engines of Creation, K Eric Drexler set down the long-term aim of nanotechnology - to create an assembler, a microscopic device, a robot, that could construct yet smaller devices from individual atoms and molecules.

Gorman and his colleagues at NIST have taken a novel approach to building a nanoassembler and reveal details in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Nanomanufacturing. "Our demonstration is still a work in progress," says Gorman, "you might describe it as a 'proto-prototype' for a nanoassembler."

it should be possible to have multiple nanoassemblers working simultaneously to manufacture next generation nanoelectronics.

Tags: nanotechnology, nanoassemblers

Life 2.0.

Thu, 31 May 2007 02:02:19 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: A fascinating article of what seems to be near future breakthrough that will radically change the course of human existence. The line between science and science fiction seems to become ever thinner

Clip Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

Life 2.0

A new generation of scientific mavericks is not content to merely tinker with life's genetic code. They want to rewrite it from scratch.

This pantheon of living organisms is about to get some newcomers—and we're not talking about extraterrestrials. Scientists in the last couple of years have been trying to create novel forms of life from scratch.

Harvard professor George Church wants "to do for biology what Intel does for electronics"—namely, making biological parts that can be assembled into organisms, which in turn can perform any imaginable biological activity.

Venter has put tens of millions of dollars of his own money into Synthetic Genomics, a start-up, to make artificial organisms that convert sunlight into biofuel, with minimal environmental impact and zero net release of greenhouse gases. These organisms, he says, will "replace the petrochemical industry, most food, clean energy and bioremediation."

Tags: science, technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, artificial life