TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) brings together some of the world’s top thinkers at conferences around the world to deliver short presentations on “ideas worth spreading.” Not surprisingly, several speakers have delivered talks on topics of interest to transhumanists, such as life extension, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and more. One of the great things about TED is [...]
Posts under ‘Nanotechnology’
Using nanoparticles to deliver targeted gene therapy for cancer
The Journal of Nature published results of a study yesterday that showed nanoparticles can be used to deliver targeted gene therapy that prevents cancer growth. A team at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena used nanotechnology — the science of really small objects — to create tiny polymer robots covered with a protein called [...]
Using nanotechnology to destroy colorectal cancer cells
The journal Nanotechnology reports a new method for targeting cancer cells using nanoparticles that destroys cancer cells while using healthy tissue unharmed: Led by Carl Batt, the Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor of Food Science, the researchers synthesized nanoparticles – shaped something like a dumbbell – made of gold sandwiched between two pieces of iron oxide. [...]
In what do you major if you want to go into nanotechnology as a career?
Over at his blog, Metamodern, Eric Drexler answers a question I’ve wondered myself – how does one study for a career in nanotechnology? After all, it’s not like there are nanotechnology majors for undergrads. The question requires a nuanced answer, which Drexler provides, encouraging students to develop a solid foundation of mathematics and basic physics. [...]
Highlights from the AAAS Annual Meeting
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) held their annual meeting this week, and naturally a lot of very interesting stories and research results were unveiled: Turning paper and clothing into batteries – By coating fabric and paper with ink “laced” with carbon nanotubes, researchers were able to coax these ordinary materials into [...]
Chemical computer mimics actions of neurons
Scientists in the EU are working on a “chemical computer” that may one day be used to control nanobots and smart drugs: The “wet computer” incorporates several recently discovered properties of chemical systems that can be hijacked to engineer computing power. The team’s approach mimics some of the actions of neurons in the brain. The [...]
Why hasn’t there been federal funding for molecular nanotechnology research?
Adam Keiper examines the potential of molecular nanotechnology in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, and notes that there hasn’t been any federal funding to explore the potential and feasibility of this technology: If this dispute over nano-nomenclature only involved some sniping scientists and a few historians watching over a tiny corner of Feynman’s legacy, [...]
Scientists use nanotech to create artificial artery
British researchers have developed an artificial artery that functions much like a real human artery, even imitating the “pulsing” of a natural blood vessel. This will come in handy for people who may not have any healthy blood vessels doctors can use for grafting, and will also prevent surgeons from having to perform two surgeries [...]
Will we be mining the moon in the next ten years?
A feature in the Montreal Gazette examines ten predicted innovations that will take place over the next decade. Most of them are completely plausible. The full list is as follows: Lunar mining Medical miniaturization 3-D printing Smarter smart phones Cloud computing Nanotechnology Flying on algae (algae-based fuels) Living forever Biotechnology Alternative energies We’re already seeing [...]
Top Transhuman Trends and Stories of 2009 – Part Two
Just in time for New Year’s Day, here’s a continuation of the Top Transhuman Tech Trends of 2009: Improved Gene Therapy While gene therapy holds a lot of promise for providing effective treatments to previously untreatable diseases, in has traditionally been very difficult to administer effectively and also carried the very real risk of serious [...]