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Analysis of scientific papers, patent applications and funding, by geography and area of nanotechnology, reveals the different strengths and weaknesses of Europe with respect to the US, Japan and the rest of the world.
Collaborations between academic institutions and industrial companies are increasing across Europe, even though each measures progress on different time scales.
Most models of DNA elasticity ignore the details of how it bends on short length scales. Now, high-resolution atomic force microscope images of DNA on a surface suggest that it is much more flexible than previously thought.
Is it possible to use modern science and engineering techniques to improve on nature, or has evolution already found the best solutions? Richard Jones explores both sides of the argument and the lessons that might be learnt.
Cerium oxide nanoparticles can scavenge reactive molecules in the eye and prevent degenerative retinal disorders in rats. The results suggest that nanoceria particles could be used to treat a variety of problems that cause blindness.
By growing and characterizing over 1,400 samples, researchers have been able to identify the optimum reaction conditions and catalyst structure for the production of ultrahigh 'forests' of double-walled carbon nanotubes.
Can cutting edge science, applied to the very toughest and most persistent global problems, simultaneously involve and inspire the next generation of scientists?
It is now possible to prepare a semiconductor quantum dot that contains a single magnetic atom, and then add just one extra electron or 'hole' to it, opening up the possibility of a new era in spintronics.
