Down to a Science » Nanotechnology

NanoSolar

Kishore — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 03:22:12 +0000

This month, we’re talking about solar as part of an application of nanotechnology. Every video on the topic leads off with the same line: “Every minute, the sun hits the planet with enough to power everything for a year”. That’s the easy line…that hard part when it comes to economics.

Because of the cost of silicon (the traditional solar PV material) and efficiency of the material, much research and focus is tending towards using nanoparticles to absorb sunlight. The material would be able to be applied on rooftops everywhere, feeding electricity to the power company during the day.

This distributed model of power generation is the vision of Palo Alto’s Nanosolar. Check out the KQED video below for a primer on the hope nanotech brings to solar power.

QUEST on KQED Public Media.

The New Asbestos?

Kishore — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:18:21 +0000

In two weeks, we’ll be discussing Nanotechnology again, this time in the context of energy usage. As we first discussed last year, there is always concerns about toxicology, especially when it comes to nanotubes.

A study released in May of 2008 details the reason for concern. In the study on mice, injection of a type of nanotube caused a chronic inflammatory response, the type of response over time that could lead to the development of cancer or other respiratory disease. While the study was concerning, it just underlies the need to understand the risk of using these particles soon.

Definitely, these raise questions we should ask of Jeff Grossman in a couple weeks.

My friend Brad produced on video on this topic for the Museum of Science and Life in North Carolina:

More Info:
Science article on the study in Mice
NY Times Article on nanoparticle health risks

Nanomedicine – the Recap

Kishore — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:23:16 +0000

Videos are now up of the Nanomedicine event last week.

Check out my new feature…a 10 minute recap of the evening.

As always, you can watch snippets of the video on YouTube as well.

Women in Nanotech – One Researcher’s Experience

Kishore — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:20:17 +0000

Nanotechnology is clearly booming with numerous research opportunities emerging over the past few years. However, the field remains dominated by men, with upwards of 90% male researchers. The below video from Nova ScienceNow, follows nanotech researcher Naomi Halas…especially her struggles as a woman scientist.

Our next speaker, Dr. Tejal Desai, will be discussing her experience in the male dominated world of nanotech and her mentoring of young women into science.

Naomi Halas is a pioneering nanotechnologist bent on seeing practical applications for her work—and soon.

watch the video clip via:
QuickTime
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Nanomedicine: One possible scenario

Kishore — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:24:37 +0000

In two weeks, we will discuss nanotechnology in medicine, an area of research that is BOOMing. Just thinking about it at a high level has me wonder, what the heck would that look like? How would it possibly work? And frankly why?

And apparently, 99% of most medicinal treatment don’t reach there designated targets. It’s like a giant game of darts.

Making a tiny device to navigate the bodies defenses to a specific target is hard to visualize. Luckily for us, someone took care of that problem.

Big trouble in small packages: Nanotoxicology

Kishore — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:39:12 +0000

About a year ago, Berkeley became the first city in the nation to regulate nanoparticles. The legislation requires any manufactured nanoparticle to be reported to the city. The law is aimed at small nanotechnology startups that are springing up all over the Bay Area. To be clear, this law only requires companies to report the development on nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are used in a myriad of products, everything from sunscreen to solar cells.

The motivation? Nanoparticles can pass directly into cells, with potential harmful effects.

How dangerous are these little particles? No one knows. Many studies are underway to understand the effect of continued nanoparticle exposure.

A recent study indicates nanoparticles of TiO2, a compound used in personal care and food products, generate oxygen free radicals when coming in contact with brain cells. Specifically, microglia cells, the brain’s cell protection against foreign pathogens, would release oxygen free radicals when coming in contact with the TiO2. The microglia cells were undamaged, but the free radical release could affect neuron in a way similar to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers. It is premature to say TiO2 damages the brain, but this study definitely brings up the possibility.

The federal government has responded by creating a list of research priorities around nanotoxicology. The US NNI established a research strategy to better understand nanotoxicology, including identification of nanomaterials at tissue, cellular, and molecular levels.

Takeaway
Our understanding of nanotoxicology is in its infancy. With hundreds of consumer products already using nanomaterials, it is good to hear the federal government stepping in. However, the research also indicates it’s time from more research, not necessarily time for policy right now. In that way, I believe strengthening legislation is ahead of the curve.

More Info
US NNI Nanotoxicology Research Strategy
Inventory of Nanomaterials in Consumer Products
Science report on TiO2 effects
Chronicle story of Berkeley Nano Regulation

Nanotechnology: a KQED primer

Kishore — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 08:50:11 +0000

QUEST never lets me down.

As a primer for the upcoming Nanomedicine discussion, check out this KQED piece on nanotechnology. Does an incredible job explaining the field at a high level.