a blog by the NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology
Earlier this year I went to Mexico for spring break. During my trip I visited sinkholes (called cenotes) and Xcaret, an eco-archeological park. Xcaret is a combination of an ecological park (open spaces for plants and animals that have built in modifications for human activities) and a cultural park (areas where visitors can observe traditional …
Continue reading "Why Do Parks Care What Sunscreen We Use?"
A few weeks ago I stumbled across an article about THINX, a new company that is innovating women’s underwear. They are using existing technologies to improve women’s underwear; specifically a special “silver treatment” for its anti-microbial properties. I was very excited about this because I have read about the antibacterial properties of silver, especially silver …
Continue reading "How Perceived Fears May Influence Companies’ Labeling of Nanoparticles"
For decades, Americans have spent billions of dollars on vitamin and mineral supplements,1 and despite concerns about effectiveness and safety,2 a 2013 Gallup poll found that half of Americans take a supplement regularly.3 As nanoparticles have made their way into medicine and pharmaceuticals, they have also moved into the health supplement industry. In this post, I will …
Continue reading "Nanoparticles & Food Part 1: Vitamins"
Here is a picture of the REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduate) students and I sailing in Lake Michigan earlier this summer. It was slightly cold that day at 59℉ with 15 mph winds but also surprisingly sunny, which meant we needed to whip out the sunscreen. Did you know many sunscreens contain nanoparticles? Well, they …
Continue reading "Personal Care Products, Nano, and You"
Sustainable Nano 