nanomaya

Nano moments with Narayana Peesapaty of Edible Cutlery

Jyothi Kiran, Tuesday, January 12, 2010 | Category: Culture Comments (0)

Even as I am getting ready to post about nanoantennas that are revolutionizing high-speed networks, there’s news of Andy Pag, the green traveller of Biotruckexpedition arrested for carrying Sat phone banned in India! To put it in a nutshell, technology can help you cross the borders but you also run the risk of losing your freedom!! We are back to square one, aren’t we!!!

Nanoantennas for high-speed data networks
More than 120 years after the discovery of the electromagnetic character of radio waves by Heinrich Hertz, wireless data transmission dominates information technology. Higher and higher radio frequencies are applied to transmit more data within shorter periods of time.

According to the Labspaces report, Some years ago, scientists found that light waves might also be used for radio transmis-sion. So far, however, manufacture of the small antennas has required an enormous expenditure. KIT scientists have now succeeded for the first time in specifically and reproducibly manufacturing smallest optical nanoantennas from gold.

Are You Worth the nano in your cosmetic bottle that promises the magic it claims?

Jyothi Kiran, Tuesday, December 8, 2009 | Category: Products Comments (2)

The European Union is to make the labeling of nanomaterials in cosmetics mandatory according to Chemistry World.

“The cosmetic regulation states that all ingredients present in the product in the form of nanomaterials should be clearly indicated in the list of ingredients, by inserting the word ‘nano’ in brackets after the ingredient listing. The ruling defines nanomaterial as ‘an insoluble or biopersistant and intentionally manufactured material with one or more external dimensions, or an internal structure, on the scale from 1 to 100 nm’.

The cosmetic regulation states that all ingredients present in the product in the form of nanomaterials should be clearly indicated in the list of ingredients, by inserting the word ‘nano’ in brackets after the ingredient listing. The ruling defines nanomaterial as ‘an insoluble or biopersistant and intentionally manufactured material with one or more external dimensions, or an internal structure, on the scale from 1 to 100 nm’.

Navigate the cosmos on winds of starlight

Jyothi Kiran, Wednesday, November 11, 2009 | Category: Culture, Energy Comments (1)

American Scientist has recently posted a story that talks about ‘navigating the cosmos on the winds of starlight’.

“Sailing on light is the only technology that can someday take us to the stars.” according to Louis Friedman, director of the Planetary Society, the worldwide organization of space enthusiasts. Nanomaya had already posted a story how during some 2000 years ago the world’s first Hi-tech Aircraft, a starship that could refuel itself from the sun’s energy is mentioned in the “Vimana Shastra”.

It seems like every civilization reaches its peak of renaissance and eventually fades away into lost terrains because of some catastrophy either nature driven or because of manmade irrevocable decisions. And then in bits and parts it rediscovers again to reinvent itself and how it seems astonished at the relics as seen in the in the pyramids and other historical evidences that suddenly come to light.

Read more about the latest starship LightSail-1 in the American scientist as it is dubbed, it will not make it to Neverland. At best the device will sail a few hours and gain a few miles in altitude. But those hours will mark a milestone for a dream that is almost as old as the rocket age itself, and as romantic: to navigate the cosmos on winds of starlight the way sailors for thousands of years have navigated the ocean on the winds of the Earth.

Can Nanotechnologies rid world’s water borne diseases like diarrhoea?.

Jyothi Kiran, Sunday, September 20, 2009 | Category: Health Comments (0)

98 % of the children in the developing world are dying due to water borne diseases. The people most at risk of arsenic poisoning are in Bangladesh, India and Nepal area. And it is mostly the children who succumb to water-related deaths due to diarrhoea.

Can nanotechnologies really help solve water problems in developing countries? There are two positive signs that they will, according to David J. Grimshaw, head of Practical Action’s international programme in new technologies and new technologies consultant for SciDev.Net.

First, water professionals and scientists are increasingly including local communities in dialogues to understand the problems with, and opportunities for, applying nanotechnology to water improvements.

Second, since the commercialization of nanotechnology is at an early stage, we can hope that such discussions — between researchers, communities and industry — will encourage scientists and businesses to develop appropriate business models to exploit their inventions.

Redefining the digital dilemma of securing data: No locks, no break-ins

Jyothi Kiran, Monday, September 7, 2009 | Category: Products Comments (8)

Move over digital cut-and-paste-guys and data hackers. You will soon be out of job, because the traditional way of data IP protection is moving over to a new patented mechanism enabled by Trinity Future-In. Which means, the creative content you created, the logo of your company, the unique idea you documented, or the music you composed cannot be used by anyone without authorization.

It is estimated that the total magnitude of counterfeiting and piracy worldwide could well be several hundred billion dollars more.

The innovative mechanism of Trinity for protecting digital files is not based on the traditional use of a lock and key system. In this solution files become invisible or inactive and block unauthorized duplication.

The Nano Race is on Facebook

Jyothi Kiran, Tuesday, September 1, 2009 | Category: Products Comments (1)

Dan Zen’s latest group game The Nano Race is about “Six groups have the technology to enter the Nano World! Our mind and bodies are micro compressed to possess power and speed beyond imagination.

You can join one of the groups and one group only - or risk being caught as a spy! The group with the most explorers is leading the NANO RACE.. You can decide which part of the microcosm you you want to be in. There are about six categories to join in starting from being Lab Mice, rocket scientists, mediating monkeys, matrix hackers, lost luckies and evil diddlers.

Dan Zen who created it says ”… the race was to see if we could get a community type game going through the facebook groups along the roleplaying lines of the Blimp races we did back in the 90’s. From the uptake… it did not quite catch on. Maybe some more pushing would help - I liked the setting of nanotech ;-)”

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16672952605&ref=search&sid=1243987230.1982345021..1

Nanogita: Wear it in good faith

Jyothi Kiran, Friday, June 19, 2009 | Category: Products Comments (0)

Through out human history, man has found a way to affirm his faith with religious inscriptions; right from cave paintings, temple carvings, calligraphy and now nanotechnology inspired inscriptions on a gold pendant.

Designed by MIT professor of computational vision Dr. Pawan Sinha, and launched by Tanishq retail jewellry chain, the pendant is the world’s smallest Bhagawad Gita etched in 24 carat gold.

When I checked with the Jayanagar showroom manager in Bangalore, the pendants were ’selling like hot cakes’. The fact that you can read only under a 200X microscope did not deter customers wanting to possess one.

“It is a collectible item”, said the sales girl, and “not for gold investment”! The gold pendant is presently awailable in Hindi inscription and is in the range of Rs.15,000 and Rs.25,000.

‘It makes a great gift’ said one lady buying it for her dad on Fathers day. Now, that is one great example of science meeting religion meeting consumer, all in one stroke!