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Volume 11 Issue 12, December 2016

DNA is packed in a condensed state in nature to serve numerous functions. The condensation of DNA on a surface typically gives polydisperse structures with no spatial organization. Simmel, Bar-Ziv and colleagues have now shown that by patterning a photo-modifiable biochip with an electron beam, DNA dendrites collapse into one-dimensional fibres 20 nm wide stretching over 70 μm in length. As well as allowing micron-scale DNA patterning, the system is suited to probabilistic problems such as solving a maze and could be integrated with biological circuits to regulate downstream processed linked to DNA condensation. The cover image is a scanning electron microscopy image of DNA condensation propagating through a maze to find the shortest path to the exit.

Letter p1076

IMAGE: GüNTHER PARDATSCHER, TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH AND DAN BRACHA, WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, ISRAEL

COVER DESIGN: BETHANY VUKOMANOVIC

Editorial

  • We reflect on some aspects of the newly updated plan of the US National Nanotechnology Initiative.

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  • With the publication of the first Nature Nanotechnology Insight, we also introduce the concept of Analysis as an article type to our journal.

    Editorial
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Thesis

  • In 2006, a group of scientists proposed five grand challenges to support the safe handling of nanotechnology. Ten years on, Andrew Maynard and Robert Aitken — two of the original authors — look at where we have come, and where we still need to go.

    • Andrew D. Maynard
    • Robert J. Aitken
    Thesis
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Research Highlights

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News & Views

  • A general method for particle assembly allows access to a diverse range of modular microscale supraparticles from nanoparticles, nanowires and even cells.

    • Nicholas A. Kotov
    News & Views
  • Nanostructured photocatalytic microrods can swim either towards or away from a light source depending on their surface functionalization.

    • Ayusman Sen
    News & Views
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Editorial

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Feature

  • Formula E — an all-electric car race series — provides a platform for displaying new technologies, and potentially accelerating their development.

    • Andreas Trabesinger
    Feature
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Perspective

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Review Article

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Analysis

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In the Classroom

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Letter

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Article

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