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Volume 3 Issue 2, February 2008

Although DNA is best known as the molecule that encodes genetic information, it is also an incredibly versatile and 'intelligent' building material at the nanoscale. Many examples of DNA nanostructures have been reported, but potential uses are somewhat limited by their static nature. Now, Andrew Turberfield and co–workers have made DNA tetrahedra (shown on the cover) containing edges that can be expanded and contracted to reconfigure the overall shape of the assembly. These dynamic structures may prove useful for the fabrication of nanomechanical devices or for controlled drugrelease applications.

Cover design by Karen Moore.

Letter by Kapanidis et al.

Volume 3 Issue 2

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Editorial

  • It is essential that governments continue to fund research that does not appear to have any obvious economic benefits, even in a field as focused on applications as nanotechnology.

    Editorial

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Commentary

  • The increasing emphasis on commercialization and market forces in modern universities is fundamentally at odds with core academic principles. Publicly funded academics have an obligation to carry out science for the public good, and this responsibility is not compatible with the entrepreneurial ethos increasingly expected of university research by governments and funding agencies.

    • Philip Moriarty
    Commentary
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Feature

  • Researchers from Japan are at the forefront of international efforts to establish standards for assessing the risks associated with nanomaterials. Adarsh Sandhu reports.

    • Adarsh Sandhu
    Feature
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Thesis

  • Is it possible to reconcile the caution of most scientists about their results with the demands of the media for headlines and the growing emphasis placed by funding agencies on the economic impact of research? Richard Jones urges scientists to be careful in their claims.

    • Richard Jones
    Thesis
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Research Highlights

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News & Views

  • A wide variety of nanomaterials are being explored in the search for technologies that can extract energy from the environment to generate electrical power for sensors and other devices.

    • Bruce E. White Jr
    News & Views

  • The electron spin on a semiconductor device can be manipulated with high-speed electrical signals, which is a major step toward scalable quantum computing.

    • Karsten Flensberg
    News & Views

  • A straightforward method for coating nanopore membranes with functional polymers puts a new face on an old friend by enabling the size and adsorption properties of the pores to be easily tuned.

    • Lane A. Baker
    • Sean P. Bird
    News & Views

  • DNA self-assembly is the basis for building three-dimensional structures. Now it is possible to use DNA as 'fuel' to change the shape of these nanostructures.

    • Chengde Mao
    News & Views

  • Can ferroelectric materials help transistors overcome the 'Boltzmann tyranny' that limits the performances of conventional semiconductor devices?

    • Victor V. Zhirnov
    • Ralph K. Cavin
    News & Views
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Progress Article

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Letter

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Article

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