Scientists Build Nano Hot Rods
May 30, 2008 by admin
Filed under Nanotechnology
A team of scientists from Arizona State University managed to boost the performance of nanomachines, bring the technology closer to the point where it can be used for industrial or medical purposes.
A team of researchers from ASU found a way to soup up these nanomachines, and we’re now a step closer to the point where they will be able to deliver medications or test water quality in remote locations. They did this by modifying the engine design and using an additive that speeds up the oxidation of the hydrogen peroxide, making these nanomachines 350 times stronger than anything else built so far.
Until now, nanomachines were being built out of gold, nickel or platinum and were fueled by hydrogen peroxide, but their speed was only 10 microns per second, which was insufficient to be used for any scientific applications.
By inserting nanotubes into platinum and adding hydrazine, they managed to increase their speed to 200 microns per second (100 times the length of these nanomachines).
Since the human body doesn’t produce hydrogen peroxide, researchers are currently working on ways to synthesize it from glucose.
In the next two years, these nanomachines should be advanced enough to be used as part of sensors that would detect impurities in drinking water, and in a few years they could be used for medical purposes (delivering drugs into the body).
Self-Repairing Aircraft In The Future?
Aircraft that are damaged while flying could automatically repair themselves in the future, by using methods similar to the natural healing found in nature.
One possibility is the use of resins that would ooze into cracks on demand and that would make possible aircrafts that are lighter, cheaper and would save fuel. It could be done by filling hollow fibers with hardeners and epoxy resin. When the aircraft is damaged and has holes, these vessels would bleed out and seal them.
Up to 90% of the original strength of the material could be regained this way, enough to allow the plane to reach its destination.
3D Body Scans, A Possible Future For Airport Security
What you see in the video below is a method of identifying people by scanning their physical characteristics. This biometric scanning technology could be used in many areas, such as airport security, scanning artifacts in museums for their 3D version or in many other areas. In airport security I would imagine that 3D scans would greatly speed up security checks at airports.
Combine this for example with holographic technology and you can get someone’s hologram in a matter of minutes.
Click read more to check out the video.
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act Becomes Law
On May 21, President Bush signed a very important law for the future, the one called the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GENA).
Why it’s important? Because it doesn’t allow for the results of genetic tests to influence decisions. We’re talking here about health insurance companies not being able to increase their rates when it comes to people predisposed to diseases or to deny them coverage. It also applies to decisions about employing, firing, hiring or giving compensation based on these genetic test results.
Here is the list of things it addresses:
- forbids insurance companies from denying coverage or raising premiums based on genetic information
- forbids insurers and employers from requiring a person to submit to genetic testing
- forbids discrimination against any person based on their personal or family genetic information
- prohibits labour organizations from denying membership based on genetic information
- prohibits the disclosure or purchase of genetic information by insurers or health planning companies
With genetic tests being such a commodity these days, this act will encourage even more people to take the step without fearing that they will lose their jobs or an increase in their health plan rates.
Though, as we already know, this doesn’t mean everyone will obey it. Taking someone’s DNA and testing it is not that hard and we will probably see some companies test their employees without them knowing and making decisions based on those results.