By Porter Wright on While it’s not really related to legal issues, it certainly is a captivating idea. The Guardian reports that a University of Washington Scientist is developing a contact lens LED display that uses nanoscale circuits. If it works, the lenses may be powered by either solar or radio-frequency power transmission, and could be theoretically used to … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars’ Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) recently published a short pamphlet intended to steer "nano firms" down the path towards commercial prosperity. D. Lekas, "How to Reduce Your Firm’s Risk and Increase Revenues Related to Nanotechnology," Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, PEN Brief No. … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on Mark your calendar for the one-day conference “NanoBiotech 2008” set for September 15, 2008 which is being co-sponsored by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY) and Bawa Biotechnology Consulting LLC (Ashburn, VA). This is the fifth in a series of international conferences they have conducted dating back to 2003 on the converging areas of nanotechnology and biotechnology. … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on This Article Was Authored and Contributed by the American National Standards Intititute As the nanotechnology industry evolves, the need for globally relevant standards – from particle properties and terminology to health, safety, and the environment – is becoming increasingly apparent. This article, the first in a series, introduces how the U.S. is influencing nano-related standards … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on There have been a number of articles published since May 20 regarding a possible link between carbon nanotubes and the development of precursors of mesothelioma because of a recent letter published in Nature Nanotechnology. C. Poland, et al., "Carbon nanotubes introduced into the abdominal cavity of mice show asbestos-like pathology in a pilot study," Nature Nanotechnology, May 20, … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is at the cutting edge of nanotechnology standardization and nomenclature development. ANSI has graciously agreed to publish a 4-5 part series on their efforts in this regard — as well as their work with/through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) — in Nanotechnology Law Report starting in our upcoming … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on MIT’s Technology Review just published its list of Top Ten Emerging Technologies for 2008. One of the top ten items is NanoRadio. TR’s description of NanoRadio begins with: If you own a sleek iPod Nano, you’ve got nothing on Alex Zettl. The physicist at the University of California, Berkeley, and his colleagues have come up … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on The Chinese government it attempting to "leapfrog" the United States in nanotechnology by 2020. The Center for Nanotechnology in Society at University of California at Santa Barbara conducted about sixty interviews with Chinese officials determine the current state of Chinese nanotechnology development. China’s research effort focuses on two sectors: technology transfer and increasing domestic research capacity.… Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on The 2009 budgets for the US Environmental Protection Agency and National Nanotechnology Initiative have been released, and the numbers are interesting. Both agencies have funds available for nano research, however note that NNI’s numbers are to help that office coordinate efforts among 26 federal agencies while EPA’s portion is only a small piece of the … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on This morning’s New York Times features an editorial discussing Peter Barton Hutt’s before the House subcommittee responsible for FDA oversight. Mr. Hutt warned that the FDA was "barely hanging on by its fingertips;" others testifying before the subcommittee suggested the agency lacked funds and staffing to do its job: In a hearing before a House … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on Nanotechnology was among the many hot topics discussed at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Among the five conceptual pillars for this year’s Forum was the topic: "Exploring Nature’s New Frontiers," which is described here. It’s a nice concept, I believe, because it highlights the diverse areas — everything from global climate change … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on The National Science Foundation has announced it call for proposals for creating the new Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology. The proposal is for grant money to help create a "national Center to conduct fundamental research and education on the implications of nanotechnology for the environment and living systems at all scales."… Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on Back in October, we reported on a $314,000 grant three Arizona State University professors received from DOE to study nanotechnology regulation. It seems that grant has already begun to bear fruit, as Nanowerk reports one of the grant recipients – law professor Doug Sylvester – will be teaching a two-hour interdisciplinary class in the Spring … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on Here’s a little math for your Monday morning. Late last week it was reported that total nanotechnology investment is expected to be worth $1 trillion by 2015. Yes, that’s "trillion." With a "T."… Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on Environmental Science & Technology recently released an editorial discussing nanotechnology safety issues and, more importantly, the recent debate over whether EPA should regulate nanoscale materials as new chemicals under TSCA. The editorial succinctly sets forth EPA’s position, as expressed by Jim Willis, EPA’s Chemical Control Division Director, on the TSCA issue this way: In an EPA document, … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on NorTech just announced the winners of its 2007 Innovation Award at its Summit in Westlake, Ohio. Crain’s Cleveland has the story here. Among the winners was one local nanotechnology company, NanoMimetics, Inc., which according to Crain’s develops and commercializes nanocoatings for medical and industrial applications. Congratulations to all!… Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on Andrew Maynard of the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson Institute testified on October 31st before the House Science Committee. PEN’s press release is here and the full text of Maynard’s remarks are here. In his testimony, Maynard advocated six steps to improve nanotechnology safety and criticized what he believed was a lack … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the latest organization to wade into the nanotechnology pool and host a forum to discuss issues of concern to members. With apologies for the late notice, the Chamber will host the symposium Breaking the Barriers: The BIG Business of Nanotechnology today (November 13, 2007) at its Headquarters to discuss … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on SmallTimes’s September/October print edition just recently hit newsstands. Featured in that magazine is our own John Monica’s article entitled "Ramping up the EPA’s Nanoscale Material Stewardship Program." (Co-blogger Michael Heintz has previously blogged about this program here and here.) The issue also contains a great article by Lynn Bergeson — "The EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act: … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on Researchers at Rice University successfully utilized a near-infrared flourescent imaging technique to detect individual carbon nanotubes in fruit flies. The study, reported here and here, involved an experiment where the researchers fed fruit fly larvae a diet that contained carbon nanotubes. The flies were then shot with a laser, which excited the nanotubes and allowed them to be viewed using a … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on According to this recent article in the Jerusalem Post, the European Union is the top public financier of nanotechnology: With €1.4 billion allocated to 550 projects in the field of nanosciences and nanotechnology, the EU’s 6th Research Framework Program accounts for one-third of total public funding for nanotechnology and is the world’s largest single funding … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on A few weeks ago I was intrigued (maybe excited?) about the prospect of a new Nobel Prize in Nanotechnology. Well, as it turns out, my excitement may have been premature.… Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on In the ever growing world of nanotechnology information and research, and new system was launched earlier this week. SAFENANO is attempting to become "the UK’s premier resource on nanotechnology hazard and risk." It is managed by the United Kingdom’s Institute for Occupational Medicine located in Edinburgh, Scotland.… Continue Reading
