Nanotechnology and the Future with Clean Energy by Tatiana Velitchkov

Nanotechnology and the Future with Clean Energy

Harnessing the power of tidal currents has the potential to provide unheard of clean, renewable energy production. Nanotechnology, with its innovative approach and non-surpassed success rate, may be the conduit needed to perfect the viability of ocean-current power as an alternative energy source.
Ocean currents are a natural phenomena located along most coastlines. The only requirement for harnessing their power is that the currents amalgamate under the surface of the ocean at depths of between eighty to two hundred and thirty feet (25 - 70 meters) with a flow of between five to ten feet per second. Harnessing this type of natural energy production it is not only a feasible undertaking, but is also quite an efficient way of supplying a clean, alternative energy source.
Although tidal power is an amazing concept, wave power also offers a much needed link to cheaper, cleaner power and its availability and conversion is being investigated vigorously in the ongoing race to market an economical, clean, renewable source of energy. Concerting above ground wind turbine units to meet undersea performance is technologically possible and, with a few adjustments, present day wind turbines are easily adapted to harness the awesome power of the sea.
Physicists have studied the gravitational pull of the moon and its effect on ocean currents for eons. Ocean tides are predictable, constant, natural occurrences that are easily forecasted for years in advance. This awesome and essentially untapped source of alternative power is not negatively affected either by adverse weather conditions or climate changes - which makes it ideal for further investigation and implementation. In order to harness the full power of the ocean, nanotechnology may be just the ticket needed to successfully construct man-made tidal dams designed to control the flow as the tides ebb and recede. Predetermined openings would allow ocean currents to flow up through these gaps into a bay or estuary where the water is collected in the dam-like barrage and then released via a series of sluice gates and through a turbine which in turn generates electricity.
This alternative energy source is well established in La Rance France where a 240 megawatt facility has been operating since 1966. In addition, other, smaller sites have also garnered some success in Canada and in South Korea plans are underway to construct a plant larger than the one in France. However, there is one drawback to this type of power harnessing. Naturalists and environmentalists are concerned with the effects that constant flooding of the barrages has on the delicate ecosystems within the bays and estuaries where they are located.
Nanotechnology scientists are working in close liaison with forward thinking ecologists to correct this deficiency by designing a type of tidal lagoon to house the turbines. Instead of creating dams within the estuary itself, they propose to take advantage of strides in nanotechnology in order to erect man-made lagoons just off shore which would be built up from the seabed and reach out at least one meter above the high tide level. In this type of construction, the turbines would be situated in a wall close to, but not interfering with, the seabed itself. The concept is simple and very effective: the water would flow in through the turbine during high tide filling the lagoon, at low tide the flow would be reversed and the turbines turned in the opposite direction. The result is a generation of electricity in both directions four times a day. Careful placement of the lagoon would be determined by the differential between the maximum heights achievable between high and low tides. Producing energy by this means is anticipated to cost less than any coal fired facility, while protecting and encouraging a positive ecological environment.
Plans are underway to begin construction in several locations off the coast of Wales and China. This combination of conventional technology in partnership with nanotechnology advances has put environmental and ecological issues to rest, yet there is still a viable concern that this type of energy plant may have an adverse effect on shipping lanes. However, these concerns have also been considered and development of barrage ocean turbines that operate independently with little or no interference to ship traffic is well into production stages.
Because narrow passages promote the fastest movement of currents, the feasibility of harnessing huge amounts of power via ocean turbines offers an excellent alternative to nuclear and coal fired energy generating plants. With the reduced threat of ecosystem damage, advanced technology, co-operation between industry and environmental agencies and the almost unlimited locations that can potentially provide ideal conditions for tidal/ocean power harnessing, this type of energy source is generating serious attention worldwide.
Therefore, this begs the question: Is it really necessary to expose our planet and its people to constant ecological threat by continuing to provide nuclear power and its associated danger to the environment? The answer is, unequivocally - No. For those of us who care about living in a cleaner, safer world, it is imperative that we embrace nanotechnology assisted methods of energy generation which are proven to exceed present energy output while reducing the threat of pollution and destruction of our ecosystems.

Tatiana is the owner of the Nanotechnology site www.ecophagy.com and runs www.Totally-Useless.com among many other sites.

Nano Cosmetics: Are they the Next Great Thing? by Louise Forrest

Nanotechnology int cosmetics

Women all over the world are doing a variety of things to combat aging. They want their faces to look like they did a few years ago, and are trying all kinds of new technologies to find the look of youth.
One of these new technologies is being marketed by one of the largest manufacturers of beauty products; the new technology is the use of nano particles in their cosmetics, particularly in anti aging wrinkle creams.
Nano cosmetics are so named because they utilize extremely tiny (or nano) particles to penetrate the skin far more than traditional anti aging treatments are able to do. Nano technology was originally introduced to be used in man made fibers and medicinal drugs.
Because of the ability of these particles to be absorbed into skin cells, questions have arisen concerning the long term effects of the chemicals being introduced into the body.
This is particularly an issue if the particles leach into body cells or the bloodstream. Both the British Agency, the Royal Society, and the American agency, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have voiced concerns about the use of nano technology in cosmetic treatments.
These governmental bodies are calling for some serious research into the long term effects of these cosmetics in the cosmetics industry, which has been relatively unregulated since its conception. The FDA is also looking into the possibility of introducing a system which would require clinical trials and licensing within this industry.
According to the FDA, urgent research is needed to assess safety concerns about nano particles used in cosmetics. The Royal Society is also questioning whether the particles are taken into cells, whether they can enter the bloodstream, and the effects of these.
The fears arising from the use of nanotechnology in cosmetics are due to questions about possible genetic mutation as a long term effect.
Traditionally, anti-aging skin care products were designed to hold moisture in the skin by creating a barrier between the skin and the outside world. Nano particles in the new generation of cosmetics do not work this way.
They are designed to penetrate the upper layers of the skin and stimulate new skin cell production which gives skin a new, plump, and youthful appearance. Nano particles make it possible to get a multitude of chemicals into the deeper layers of skin because the chemicals can be covered by the particles.
Many of these chemicals would cause irritation in other forms and may be stimulating the inner working by irritating from the inside. This is the nano cosmetic secret to anti aging and anti-wrinkle skin care products. Basically, if your use these products, you will definitely see results, but you do not know what effects they may have on you in the long run.
This rush to influx the market with over the counter anti aging creams and other anti aging cosmetics is in answer to medical treatments for anti aging, like Botox. Skin care companies have realized that people will pay well for products that work due to the number of people who utilize (and pay for) the Botox solution for anti aging, even if it is temporary.
In an attempt to keep their competitive edge, some of the leading manufacturers, are leading this race, having patented several dozen nanosomes. A nanosome is a particle which is a staggering 800 times smaller than the diameter of a single human hair.
With the cosmetics industry steady increase in sales (approximately 10% per year), companies are always looking for ways to draw customers to their door.
While other companies are working the technology, they may not actually have products on the market yet. One of the appearance concerns that some companies are interested in using nanotechnology to answer is hair; research is ongoing to find ways to use nano particles to prevent hair from turning grey and also for loss of hair.
While the use of nanotechnology in the cosmetics industry is quite a rage for both cosmetics companies and consumers. This technology as an anti aging tool does give results, but may pose serious health concerns, not only for current generations, but for future generations.
by Louise Forrest

How to synthesize nanoparticles?

In nanotechnology, the most important is how to fabricate nanomaterials which have the suitable properties for applications. There are many methods to produce nanoparticles such as solvothermal process, laser ablation, precipitation method, pyrolysis and so on. Some methods are simple reaction and easy to do. The key to make nanoparticles is how to control and stop the reaction to make nano-size products because the properties of nanoparticles depend on their size and morphology.

For example: Microemulsion method

Microemulsions are isotropic, thermodynamically stable dispersion of oil, water, surfactant and often cosurfactant. Microemulsion can be characterized as oil-in-water (O/W), water-in-oil (W/O) and bicontinuous system. Water-in-oil microemulsions are composed of nanometer-sized water droplets that are dispersed in a continuous oil medium and stabilized by surfactant molecules. These droplets can serve as nanoreactors for producing nanoparticles

The Lotus Effect

Nanotechnology in natures

Natures template

Discovered by Botanists Wilhelm Barthlott and Christoph Neinhuis from the University of Bonn in Germany, the ‘Lotus Effect’ is the name given to the self-cleaning phenomenon of the Lotus.
The leaves of Lotus plants have the unique ability to avoid getting dirty. They are coated with wax crystals around 1 nanometers in diameter that repel water. Droplets falling onto the leaves bead-up and if the surface slopes slightly will roll off taking dirt with them, so that the leaves are self-cleaning.
At the nanoscale rough surfaces are effective in repelling water than smooth ones as there is less contact between water and solid. This rough surface structure is also essential to the self-cleaning effect on a smooth surface such as glass. Scientists are finding they can use nature as a template.

more information http://www.nanotec.com.au

Will Nanotechnology Help Treat Cancer? by Dr. Joseph Mercola

Cancer nanotechnology, the use of molecular tools designed to combat the disease, is a growing field. Recently, the National Cancer Institute announced two waves of funding for nanotech training and research, and it sees nanotechnology as vital to its goal of "eliminating suffering and death from cancer by 2015." In recent years, much has been learned about how cancer works at the cellular level, meaning that molecules that detect and destroy cancer cells could eventually make painful and ineffective treatments a thing of the past. Cancer DetectionThe first generation of cancer nanotech applications will most likely concern detection. Nanoparticles could recognize a cancer's molecular signatures, or adhere to hidden cancerous cells, making them visible to an MRI or fluorescent light. Cancer DestructionEventually, nanoparticles could be made which not only find those cells, but also destroy them.

Such applications could include:

- Metallic molecules that adhere to cancer cells, and can then be heated with microwaves, a magnetic field, or infrared light, destroying the tumor without harm to surrounding tissue
- Molecular envelopes for chemical compounds that would otherwise be toxic to ingest
- Nanoparticles that carry other therapeutic chemicals on their surface to targeted areas

It is difficult to guess how soon cancer nanotechnologies will be commercially available. The research is still in early stages, and safety testing is difficult.Wired News November 7, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comment:I am a major proponent of technology and have previously run articlesabout nanotechnology.Without any doubt, this technology will change your life in the future, for better or worse. I suspect you'll hearing much more about nanotech in the coming years being used as a weapon by conventional medicine to eliminate cancer.In fact, the National Cancer Institute is so keen on nanotech, they've developed a Cancer Nanotechnology Plan that calls for clinical trials in as soon as three years.I remain cautiously optimistic though. Well I welcome this radical breakthrough in technology I have some concerns and reservations about it being another form of pollution that could ultimately backfire and create more harm than good.However, I do believe if properly harnessed this technology, along with genetic expression manipulation has the potential to extend our lifespan into the 150 year old range.However,you don't have to wait for technology to catch up to natural treatments to enhance and protect your health. And even if nanotech were here today they would work synergistically with natural therapies and would in no way be a substitute or replacement for them.If you want to virtually eliminate your cancer risk today, I urge you to review my comprehensive list of 11 recommendations I posted earlier this year.

About the Author
This article is reprinted from Mercola.com, the world's #1 most visited and trusted natural/alternative health website. For a limited time only, you can take the FREE "Metabolic Type Test" to help you learn the right foods for your particular body type so you can achieve optimal fitness & health. Just go to http://www.mercola.com/forms/mt_test.htm right now to take this quick test!

Nowaday, nanotechnology has been named as one of the most important areas of impending technology. because of their unique characteristics that can hardly be found in conventional macroscopic materials. With these properties, nanomaterials will have their excellent values in many industries such as electronics, chemicals, cosmetics, environmentals and so on.

What is Nanotechnology ?

The word “Nano” means dwarf in Greek language. Use it as a prefix for any unit and it mean billionth of that unit (10-9). So nanotechnology is the term used to cover the design, construction and utilization of functional structures with at least one characteristic dimension measured in nanometers. These materials can be created to exhibit significantly improved chemical, physical and biological properties and phenomena because of the size of the particles. The size in a range of nanometer (about 10-9 m to 10-7 m or 1 nm to 100 nm), the objects may display physical attributes different from bulk materials, this can lead to new technological opportunities as well as new challenges.

How small is "nano"

From the picture, It clearly see that how small is "nano". Hair is about 60000-120000 nm. Nano almost as wide as a DNA molecule .The smallest lithographic feature on a Pentium computer chip is about 100 nanometers.

Some present and future applications of nanomaterials

Electronics and optoelectronics
- Inorganic nanomaterials for high definition television and panel displays
- Three-dimensional optical memories
- The next-generation computer chips
- Semiconductor devices
- Electrically conducting nanoceramics

Manetic Application
- magnetic memories
- magnetorestrictive materials
- resisters and varistors
- high temperature superconductors

Energy storage
- high energy density batteries
- better thermal or electrical insulation materials
- solar cells
- hydrogen storage materials

In gas sensing devices
- gas sensors for NOx, SOx, CO2, CO, CH4 and aromatic hydrocarbon
- UV sensors

Protection coating
- cost-effective corrosion protection materials

Medical application
- bio-compatible coating for medical applications
- controlled drug release and drug delivery

Catalysis
- photocatalyst for air or water purifying
- better activity and selectivity in chemical reactions and fuel cells