Tag Archives: nano

decaturjim:

Flowers via nanotechnology

Researchers at Harvard have used nanotechnology to generate these ‘flowers’, which are roughly the width of “six red blood cells”. 

joshbyard:

Researchers Using Quantum “Squeezed Light” to Image The Insides of Cells

Conventional optical imaging is limited by the process of diffraction, the way light spreads out when it passes an object. The amount of diffraction depends, in part, on natural uncertainties in the position of the photons. Physicists think of this uncertainty as quantum noise. 

In recent years, however, they’ve have worked out how to minimise the amount quantum noise by carefully manipulating the way photons are created. They call the resulting photons “squeezed light” and there has been no little excitement over their potential to beat the conventional diffraction limit in all kinds of applications.

One obvious use is in cellular imaging where squeezed light offers biologists a clear advantage for exploring cellular processes. Various groups have used squeezed light to make pioneering measurements inside cells. But the process of imaging to reveal spatial variations in the structure of a cell, has so far eluded them.

(via First Quantum-Enhanced Images of a Living Cell | MIT Technology Review)

futurescope:

Synthetic granular for affordable point-of-use water purification

From a research group at India’s Institute of Technology Madras:

Creation of affordable materials for constant release of silver ions in water is one of the most promising ways to provide microbially safe drinking water for all. Combining the capacity of diverse nanocomposites to scavenge toxic species such as arsenic, lead, and other contaminants along with the above capability can result in affordable, all-inclusive drinking water purifiers that can function without electricity. […] The nanocomposite exhibits river sand-like properties, such as higher shear strength in loose and wet forms. These materials have been used to develop an affordable water purifier to deliver clean drinking water at US $2.5/y per family. The ability to prepare nanostructured compositions at near ambient temperature has wide relevance for adsorption-based water purification.

[paper] [Pradeep Research Group] [read more @physorg] [via spiegel]

knownano:

Part two of Seeing Nano! Nano Waves!

This is my make art daily submission for favourites. I made it with my favourite person, it’s one of my favourite current projects, and it features three of my favourite things, nano, art, and education.

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

Can nanotechnology be used in civil engineering?

@Eng_93b: @KnowNano hi, can we use nanotechnology in civil engineering? .. I mean construction engineering ?

It may seem strange to think something as small as nanotechnology could be a part of something as relatively big as civil engineering but there is actually a huge overlap. And the biggest area for overlap is materials science.

As one article puts it (http://www.aggregateresearch.com/article.aspx?ID=6279&archive=1):

“Nanotechnology’s miniature answers to developing world’s biggest problems Construction: including nano-molecular structures to make asphalt and concrete more resistant to water; materials to block ultraviolet and infrared radiation; materials for cheaper and durable housing, surfaces, coatings, glues, concrete, and heat and light exclusion; and self-cleaning for windows, mirrors and toilets…”

And the intersections between civil engineering and nanotechnology aren’t limited to that. People are coming up with all sorts of new ideas to utilize nanotechnology in every field all the time.