Bacterial Battery Converts Sugar into Electricity
September 9, 2003
Researchers have developed a primitive microbial fuel cell that can convert simple sugars into electricity with 81 percent efficiency.
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Nanotubes Exhibit ‘Ideal’ Photon Emission
September 8, 2003
Nanotubes have been shown to re-emit light (when radiated by a laser) at precise, stable frequencies, making them ideal for quantum cryptography and as sensors that can detect a single molecule of a substance.
Molecules of life come in waves
September 8, 2003
Scientists at the University of Vienna have observed an interference pattern for molecules of tetraphenylporphyrin, the key component of light-absorbing chlorophyll in plants and oxygen-binding haemoglobin in blood.
This quantum behavior was thought to be limited to subatomic particles and individual atoms. The finding raises questions about larger biological molecules and may have implications for the Penrose-Hameroff proposal that consciousness might arise from wave-like quantum-mechanical effects involving protein filaments… read more
Superworm To Storm The Net On 9/11
September 5, 2003
An analysis of Internet virus activity shows that on September 11th, an advanced worm attack is set to infiltrate the Internet and could potentially halt email traffic worldwide. We need to act now.
The Nanotechnology Revolution
September 5, 2003
From science fiction to the halls of Congress, the promise and perils of nanotechnology have become big news. But just what is nanotechnology, what are its prospects, and how should policymakers and citizens think about it? Adam Keiper explores the surprisingly varied meanings of nanotech, and the implications of our growing control over the very small.
Doomsday postponed
September 5, 2003
Astronomers have issued the “all-clear” on asteroid 2003 QQ47, suspected by some to be on a possible collision course with the Earth in just 11 years.
Intel sampling first ICs made on 90-nm line
September 4, 2003
Intel Corp. is sampling the first microprocessors manufactured on its 90-nanometer process technology — the Prescott for desktop PCs and the Dothan, an improved version of the Pentium M chip for laptops.
Prescott, an upgrade over current Pentium 4 microprocessors, doubles the on-die Level 2 cache to 1 Mbyte with an expected 3.4-GHz frequency.
Nanoscale iron could help cleanse the environment
September 4, 2003
An ultrafine nanoparticle made from iron is turning out to be a remarkably effective tool for cleaning up contaminated soil and groundwater–a trillion-dollar problem that encompasses more than 1000 still-untreated Superfund sites in the United States, some 150,000 underground storage tank releases, and a staggering number of landfills, abandoned mines, and industrial sites.
When metallic iron oxidizes in the presence of contaminants such as trichloroethene, carbon tetrachloride, dioxins, or… read more
Computer modelling future of medicine
September 4, 2003
By finding new ways to harness huge amounts of computing power, the costs and time of drug testing can be reduced.
Mapping the human genome has given researchers a massive amount of data which can be used to study reactions to disease and therapeutic interventions at a molecular level.
The DNA of the animals commonly used for testing had also been mapped, meaning it should be possible to… read more
Future Watch: Using computers to outthink terrorists
September 3, 2003
Some of the technology shown in last year’s blockbuster movie Minority Report may soon be a reality and a centerpiece of the intelligence community’s war on terrorism.
Research into new intelligence technology is taking place as part of a $54 million program known as Genoa II. DARPA is studying potential IT that may not only enable new levels of collaboration among teams of intelligence analysts, policy-makers and covert operators,… read more
Chilly Future May Await Tomorrow’s Computers
September 3, 2003
A “chill pill” that Slovenian computer scientists recently formulated could eliminate most heat-caused errors with quantum computers, allowing them to operate at incredible speeds successfully.
Reinventing the Transistor
September 3, 2003
Hewlett-Packard is betting that it can build computers whose functionality rests on the workings of individual molecules. It’s blue-sky research, but if it works, it will push computing far beyond the limits of silicon.
A chip in which silicon transistors are replaced with molecular devices could in principle be fabricated through a simple chemical process. A circuit with 10 billion switches could eventually fit on a grain of salt;… read more
Fuel-Cell Tech May Be Coming Soon
September 3, 2003
Japanese companies are pushing ahead with prototypes of miniaturized fuel cells they say will dramatically improve the battery life of laptop computers. Yet, some experts insist fuel-cell technology is still several years away.
CRN Comments on Greenpeace Nanotech Report
September 3, 2003
The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology has prepared a 10-page document that supplements the recent Greenpeace report, “Future Technologies, Today’s Choices,” which addresses the risks and benefits of nanotechnology and artificial intelligence.
The document prepared by CRN provides greater detail on the current state of research in molecular nanotechnology (MNT), and discusses possible near-term developments in limited molecular nanotechnology (LMNT).
Eric Drexler, chairman of the… read more
Researchers Measure The Electrical Resistance Of Single Molecules
September 2, 2003
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a relatively straightforward method for measuring the electrical resistance of single molecules. The advance promises to have a huge impact on the burgeoning field of molecular electronics.