Nanotechnologies

ISSUES

Welcome to the nanoworld

The term “nanotechologies” includes both objects (nanostructures, nanosensors, etc.) and manufacturing technologies such as nanoinstruments. With nanotechnologies, science makes the leap from Newtonian physics, which describes mainly the macroscopic world (visible to the naked eye), to quantum physics, which deals with the nanoworld: atoms and particles.
Nanometres and the nanometre scale
The prefix “nano” derives from the Greek nanos for “small”. Very small, in fact: a nanometre (nm) is one billionth of a meter. The nanoworld encompasses objects of 100 nm and under. The nanometre is the unit of length used to describe the size of molecules, while atoms are measured in tenths of nanometres (angstroms). To illustrate, one nanometre is about 1/30,000 the thickness of a hair. A grain of pollen measures about 5,000 nm, and a red blood cell 2,000 to 5,000 nm.

NEWS

Sorry, most of the news are only available in French language for the moment.

JAPAN - TOKYO - "Un maillot de corps blanc sale est impossible à ravoir", "un pull chaud est un pull épais", "une surface rayée...

INDIA - Waste tea leaves could be a cheap source of biofuel that does not compromise food security, according to Pakistani...

FRANCE - PARIS - Une dernière réunion, sur invitation, doit clore mardi à Paris le débat national sur les nanotechnologies,...

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DEBATES

An Industry on an Atomic Scale: Nanotechnology, the hype of the infinitely small

Le Monde diplomatique

The word “nano” has a mighty and nebulous power…almost magical. Yet it is difficult to really know how broad its scope is. Does it refer to all research and experiments on a nanometer scale (a billionth of a meter)? A wide marketing campaign to rename, under the attractive heading of “boundaries of the infinitely small,” the physical chemistry of materials? Or even a unifying project combining the techno science of matter, life, and information? The fact remains that nanomaterials are there,...

Nanotechnology: The social, economic and industrial effects

In the scientific world, some see it as a major change...

Plenty of Room at the Bottom

Plenty of Room at the BottomI would like to describe a...

VIDEOS

26/02/2009

Des particules nanoscopiques d'argent capables de détruire des microbes...

26/02/2009

Jim Hutchison est professeur de l'université d'Oregon et spécialiste en...

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