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Private investors have a lot to offer universities who are interested in developing and commercializing new technologies. Michael N. Helmus and Anil K. Rao describe how such partnerships can work in practice.
Many economies in the developing world rely heavily on the export of minerals. Richard Jones discusses what the development of new nanomaterials will mean for such countries.
Some of the most famous images in nanoscience and technology have been produced by scanning probe microscopes but, as Chris Toumey explains, there is much more to these images than meets the eye.
As companies rush to bring new products to market, they may be cutting corners in ways that will backfire on them in the future. Spending more time on the early stages of the development process will, says Michael Helmus, save time later.
Nanotechnology could lead to materials that are stronger, lighter and stiffer. This is not a new claim but, as Richard Jones explains, it is an important one.
When involving the public in discussions about new developments in science and technology, there are important differences between nanotechnology and other areas that need to be taken into account, as Chris Toumey explains.
Nanotechnology could have an enormous impact on medicine but, says Michael Helmus, the regulations that govern new drugs and medical devices need to be updated before nanomedicine can be commercialized.
The results of exercises in which members of the public discuss nanotechnology with scientists might not be surprising but, as Richard Jones explains, they are still worthwhile.
Patent protection and freedom to operate are essential for the commercialization of nanotechnology. Michael Helmus offers a step-by-step guide on how to deal with intellectual property.
Nanotechnology offers the promise of better solar cells and cleaner drinking water, but there are many practical obstacles to be overcome before nanotechnology can benefit the developing world, as Richard Jones explains.
Everyone has heard of Feynman, Binnig and Rohrer, and the scanning tunnelling microscope, but where does Conrad Schneiker fit in? Chris Toumey explains.
