Nanotech Breakthroughs

Breakthrough in nanodevice synthesis revolutionizes biological sensors

A novel approach to synthesizing nanowires (NWs) allows their direct integration with microelectronic systems for the first time, as well as their ability to act as highly sensitive biomolecule detectors that could revolutionize biological diagnostic applications, according to a report in Nature.

"We electronically plugged into the biochemical system of cells," said senior author Mark Reed, Harold Hodgkinson Professor of Engineering & Applied Science. "These developments have profound implications both for application of nanoscience technologies and for the speed and sensitivity they bring to the future of diagnostics."

In other words, we can turn our reactive healthcare system into a preventive healthcare system. That means we'll catch diseases in early developing stages and undertake measures to prevent them from happening. We'll be healthier and greatly curbing our healthcare costs.

This is one of the reasons why I'm optimistic for the future.


Scientists build nanomachine envisioned 150 yrs ago

"We have a new motor mechanism for a nanomachine," said David Leigh, a professor of chemistry at the University.

Scientists are trying to unravel the secrets of nanomachines and nanotechnology, which works on a tiny scale. One nanometer is a billionth of a meter, or about 80,000 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair.

"Molecular machines allow life itself to occur at a molecular level. Our new motor mechanism is a small step toward doing that sort of thing with artificial molecular machines," Leigh told Reuters.

"It is a machine mechanism that is going to take molecular machines a step forward to the realization of the future world of nanotechnology. Things that seem like a Harry Potter film now are going to be a reality."

Not sure what the Harry Potter remark is all about. I guess Leigh is just trying to get the world to brace itself for vast change...