Nano2Sol by Marc Boucher

Nanoforum, a pan-European nanotechnology network funded by the European Union, has just released it’s Ninth Nanoforum Report on Nanotechnology in Aerospace. This 151 page report is available for download after you register (free) on the site.

While the report is geared primarily for the European market those interested current trends in nanomaterials and nanotechnologies will find the report full of useful information with references to ongoing projects outside of Europe as well.

The report excludes military R&D applications and is targeted at audiences who are “non-experts of an academic level with a general interest in the potential of nanotechnology for aerospace applications, and experts involved in setting the strategic R&D agenda in this field”.

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Nanotech is an area I try to keep up to speed on especially when it concerns space or medical applications. Howard Lovy writes an article Wired that showcases how medical nanobots might one day fight diseases such as cancer. Personally my attitude is that if I can keep myself healthy long enough I might benefit from some of these future technologies which could extend my life.

Nanotech Moves Closer to Cure: “Dr. James Baker and his lab at the University of Michigan are turning tiny, tendril-covered particles into weapons against disease and illness. By Howard Lovy.”

(Via Wired News.)

Excerpts from today’s press release.

“A Case Western Reserve University engineer has created the “seeds” that can grow into today’s and tomorrow’s computer and phone chips.”

“What makes this discovery significant, Tabib-Azar says, is that, while there are some technical issues yet to be addressed, carbon nanotube bridges may open the door for manufacturers to utilize carbon nanotubes in building the tiniest computer and communication chips. Carbon nanotubes are being explored for many applications in nanoelectronics, nano-electromechanical systems, biosensors, nano-composites, advanced functional materials and meta-materials.”

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From science fiction to reality, NASA’s TETWalker robot successfully completed it’s first walk demonstrating technology that could eventually be minituarized and joined together to form autonomous nanotechnology swarms (ANTS).

Eventually ANTS will be able to “alter their shape to flow over rocky terrain or to create useful structures like communications antennae and solar sails. This technology has the potential to directly support NASA’s Vision for Space Exploration“.

According to China’s People Daily a joint project between the Advanced Technology and Materials Co., the University of Science and Technology Beijing and the Institute of Physics under Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) has achieved a major breakthrough in the developement of Nano-crystalline material joining Japan and Germany as leaders in the field.

Nano-crystalline material is made up of crystal particles five to ten nanometers long. The new material will be used on Shenzhou VI scheduled to launch in mid-October with a crew of two Yuhangyuan (astronauts).