a blog by the NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology
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"
When we talk about sustainability in chemistry, one thing we have to think about is how the chemicals we use in our experiments may affect the environment. The traditional production of nanoparticles frequently involves the use of toxic materials such as harsh solvents and surfactants to synthesize a diverse array of nanoparticles that range from …
Continue reading "The Green Nanotechnology Revolution"
During my time in the Marine Corps I met several people that lost limbs in the war. I made the decision to leave the service to get my degree. Inspired by my fellow soldiers, my ultimate goal is to start a company making prosthetics and bionic limbs, hopefully making their lives a little bit easier. …
Continue reading "Nanoparticles in Prosthetics & Bionics"
Nanoparticles and the Environment Series, Part I (click here for part II) More than a year ago on this site, I talked to you about how nanoparticles were already all around us, and have been for most of human history. That day, I was hoping to show you that while nanotechnology may sound cool and …
Continue reading "Nano Contaminants: How Nanoparticles Get Into the Environment"
Recent discoveries continue to highlight the many uses of that wonderful kingdom of life, fungus. Penicillin, a group of antibiotics that changed medicine forever, is derived from the Penicillium fungi (taken from a moldy cantaloupe in an Illinois market). These antibiotics have saved countless lives since WWII and are still in use today. Yeast, perhaps …
Continue reading "Fungus Amongus – the Nanoparticle Producers"
This is part one of a two (maybe three…definitely four at the most) part series What motivated me to explore the chemical world of cleaning? Is it possible to have nice smelling armpits without lathering up some soap in the shower? Can we permanently get rid of those traditional cleaning chemicals that almost everyone has …
The next time that you go to your sink and pour a glass of water, take a second to think about what’s in it. It likely has a little bit of chlorine, some fluoride for your teeth, and small amounts of minerals—but most importantly it has no appreciable amount of nasty disease-causing pathogens or toxic …
Continue reading "New Filter Gives Drinking Water a Silver Lining"
Happy Friday! That was a video by our friends at the Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology at Duke University. Our research goals are related to theirs. They are looking at things more from the perspective of the entire ecosystem, while we are taking a more "zoomed-in" approach--looking at things from the atomic- and molecular-scale. …
Continue reading "Friday Video: Does Every Silver Lining Have a Cloud?"
Silver nanoparticles can be found in socks and sports clothing because of their ability to kill bacteria and inhibit unwanted odors. Their antibacterial properties are exploited in a number of other products on the market, including cutting boards, computer keyboards, personal care products…and the list goes on. The multitude of uses explains why nanoparticles made …
Continue reading "Silver For Your Smelly Socks??"
What inspires people to do science? Perhaps you, Dear Reader, are interested in understanding how the physical world works. Maybe you saw a rainbow, or ocean waves on the beach, when you were a kid, and therefore have a love for optics, physics, or oceanography. Human-made objects can also inspire scientists. Quite a few people …
Continue reading "Art as Inspiration for Science"
Sustainable Nano 