Separating the Hype and the Buzz-- Tuesday, March 17, 2009

NEWSWORTHY

Nano biofuels
QuantumSphere, Inc. today announced that it was awarded a research grant from the California Energy Commission to develop a process using nanocatalysts to convert biomass into biofuels. See Nanowerk.

EFSA Nanofood report
The European Food Safety Authority has concluded its assessment of the potential risks of nanotechnologies for food and feed, stating that a cautious, case-by-case approach is needed as many uncertainties remain over its safe use. See FoodNavigator.

Japanese guidelines
The Japanese Ministry of the Environment released guidelines on March 10, 2009, with the intent of reducing the risk of environmental harm from nanomaterials. See Merid.

Russia takes action on nanosafety
The Russian agency for Health and Consumer Rights and the Russian Corporation for Nanotechnologies signed an agreement to provide mutual systematic, scientific and technical support in validation and confirmation of nanoproducts safety, implementation of nanotechnologies and creation of nanotechnological production. See A to Z Nano.

Emission based energy
Very interesting piece on turning emissions of Co2 into using carbon nanotubes. U. Messina team describes the process in length. See European Commission.

Nano methane
A Penn State team wants to use captures CO2 to produce methane. The process involves used arrays of nitrogen-doped titania nanotubes. See A to Z nano.

Nano solar
Researchers at Canada's National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) and the University of Alberta have engineered an approach that is leading to improved performance of plastic solar cells (hybrid organic solar cells). See A to Z nano.

Nano-ethanol
A Iowa State University researchers are working to produce clean, renewable energy by developing a new, low-emissions burner and a new catalyst for ethanol production using carbon based nanoparticles. See Nanowerk.

Impact of toxicity testing
Interesting article on the costs of toxicity testing for regulation. “for the United States that costs for testing existing nanoparticles ranges from $249 million for optimistic assumptions about nanoparticle hazards (i.e., they are primarily safe and mainly require simpler screening assays) to $1.18 billion for a more comprehensive precautionary approach”. See Environmental Science & Technology.

FDA initiative in nanomedicine
The FDA announced the creation of a nanotechnology initiative in collaboration with the eight Texas academic institutions that make up the Houston-based Alliance for NanoHealth. The FDA's announcement describes the initiative's goal as "to help speed development of safe and effective medical products.” This is something worth watching. See Technology Review.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Africa - Japan effort
South Africa and Japan discussing cooperation on biosciences, energy, climate change, space science, astronomy and nanotechnology. See All Africa.

OECD vision paper
The Business and Industry Advisory Committee's Expert Group on Nanotechnology recently issued a "vision paper" with the above title, with the goal of identifying "strategic priorities from the perspective of the OECD Business Community. See the Responsible Development of Nanotechnology report.

Life cycle study
Ohio State researchers completed a study on the life cycle energetic implications of carbon nanofiber reinforced polymer nanocomposite materials. See Environmental Science & Technology.

Nano rainmaking
Researchers at the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) at UCL have discovered a novel one dimensional ice chain structure built from pentagons that may prove to be a step toward the development of new materials which can be used to seed clouds and cause rain. See Nanowerk.

Nano aids treatment?
Hungary’s Power of the Dream Ventures, Inc. announced its DermaVir Patch, a nanomedicine grounded treatment for HIV/AIDS. "Proof of concept" for the immunological and antiviral activities of Genetic Immunity's product was demonstrated in infected macaques, some of them with advanced stages of AIDS. See CNN.

Plant uptake
Clemson team reporting on research studying the uptake of nanoparticles by rice plants. See Nanowerk.

Nano-plumbing
Duke U. engineers demonstrate carbon buckyballs may be able to keep the nation's water pipes clear in the same way clot-busting drugs prevent arteries from clogging up. See Physorg.com.

Airplane safety
MIT team argues nanocarbon tubes stitched together to produce aerospace materials could make airplane skins and other products some 10 times stronger at a nominal increase in cost. See Nanotech Now.

Green nano
Interesting ES&T article on the promises of green nanotechnology.

Regulation dissertation
Hansen’s dissertation (from DTU) is available for download. I have been watching Steffan’s work for some time now. He is a bright young mind in the nano SEIN field.

Biomass to produce carbontube
Japanese team developed a new method for producing ultra-lightweight hollow carbon fine particles from lignin. See Nanowerk.

Nano News Update is Launched!

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