Stunning Research Shows High Potential for DNA Damage from Nanoparticles

Stunning Research Shows High Potential for DNA Damage from Nanoparticles: "(NaturalNews) Nanoparticles may be able to damage the DNA of cells without ever coming into contact with it, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Bristol Implant Research Center and published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology."

Safer nuclear reactors with self-healing nanocrystalline materials

Safer nuclear reactors with self-healing nanocrystalline materials: "Science Daily (Mar. 26, 2010) — Self-repairing materials within nuclear reactors may one day become a reality as a result of research by Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists."

Nanotechnology: exploiting the fourth independent degree of freedom - Small Times

Nanotechnology: exploiting the fourth independent degree of freedom - Small Times: "Executive overview
The many thoughtful definitions of nanotechnology offered in the media and literature in recent years do well in conveying a general idea. However, the most salient point, the essence of nanotechnology, is ignored or possibly unnoticed by most. At the heart of nanotechnology is the exploitation of size as an independent, fourth degree of freedom. This rarely acknowledged fact is discussed and examples presented."

New ceramic is not afraid of the cold - tech - 22 March 2010 - New Scientist

New ceramic is not afraid of the cold - tech - 22 March 2010 - New Scientist: "Dunk a hot ceramic into cold water and it will crack as the material contracts too rapidly to hold together – until now. New ceramics have been developed that wrap themselves in a blanket of insulating air to buffer the effects of sudden changes in the temperature of its environment."

Compliant systems: Flexible yet strong materials allow aircraft wings to flex with air flow

Compliant systems: Flexible yet strong materials allow aircraft wings to flex with air flow: "ScienceDaily (Mar. 14, 2010) — Those who witnessed the first takeoff of an Airbus A380 Superjumbo from Zurich airport at the end of January know that elegant is not the right word for the aircraft. On the other hand it is perfect to describe a crane as it leaves the ground, rising in a seemingly weightless fashion. This is not just because of the difference in size and weight -- the bird uses its flying surfaces in a completely different manner to the machine. It steers itself by continually varying the geometry of its wings."

NewsDaily: Experts design elastic iron for surgeries, buildings

NewsDaily: Experts design elastic iron for surgeries, buildings: "HONG KONG, Mar. 19, 2010 (Reuters) — Researchers in Japan have designed a super-elastic iron alloy which they hope can be used in sophisticated heart and brain surgeries and even buildings in earthquake zones."

Metallic glass yields secrets under pressure

Metallic glass yields secrets under pressure: "ScienceDaily (Mar. 17, 2010) — Metallic glasses are emerging as potentially useful materials at the frontier of materials science research. They combine the advantages and avoid many of the problems of normal metals and glasses, two classes of materials with a very wide range of applications. For example, metallic glasses are less brittle than ordinary glasses and more resilient than conventional metals."

Designer nanomaterials on demand: Scientists report universal method for creating nanoscale composites

Designer nanomaterials on demand: Scientists report universal method for creating nanoscale composites: "Now, researchers at Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry, in collaboration with researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, have shown how nanocomposites with desired properties can be designed and fabricated by first assembling nanocrystals and nanorods coated with short organic molecules, called ligands. These ligands are then replaced with clusters of metal chalcogenides, such as copper sulfide. As a result, the clusters link to the nanocrystal or nanorod building blocks and help create a stable nanocomposite. The team has applied this scheme to more than 20 different combinations of materials, including close-packed nanocrystal spheres for thermoelectric materials and vertically aligned nanorods for solar cells."

Silver proves its mettle for nanotech applications

Silver proves its mettle for nanotech applications

Ferrous Polycrystalline Shape-Memory Alloy Showing Huge Superelasticity -- Tanaka et al. 327 (5972): 1488 -- Science

Ferrous Polycrystalline Shape-Memory Alloy Showing Huge Superelasticity -- Tanaka et al. 327 (5972): 1488 -- Science: "Shape-memory alloys, such as Ni-Ti and Cu-Zn-Al, show a large reversible strain of more than several percent due to superelasticity. In particular, the Ni-Ti–based alloy, which exhibits some ductility and excellent superelastic strain, is the only superelastic material available for practical applications at present. We herein describe a ferrous polycrystalline, high-strength, shape-memory alloy exhibiting a superelastic strain of more than 13%, with a tensile strength above 1 gigapascal, which is almost twice the maximum superelastic strain obtained in the Ni-Ti alloys. Furthermore, this ferrous alloy has a very large damping capacity and exhibits a large reversible change in magnetization during loading and unloading. This ferrous shape-memory alloy has great potential as a high-damping and sensor material."

ArcelorMittal to shift Rs 50k-cr project to Bokaro

ArcelorMittal to shift Rs 50k-cr project to Bokaro: "New Delhi: Disappointed over delays in the launch of its Rs 50,000-crore steel project in Jharkhand, global steel giant ArcelorMittal is set to relocate its plant proposed at Khunti-Gumla to Bokaro district in the state mainly on account of land acquisition problems. The steelmaker had entered into a pact with the Jharkhand government for setting up a 12 million tonne per annum (mtpa) steel plant in 2005 but has been facing delays in land acquisition amid regulatory hurdles."

Material tested could guarantee body protheses for more than 150 years

Material tested could guarantee body protheses for more than 150 years: "The PhD thesis is titled 'Development of a new nanocompound material made of zirconia with coated carbon nanotubes, for orthopaedic applications.' Garmendia wished to show that the aging and cracking of prostheses could be avoided. To begin with, carbon nanotubes were added to the zirconia matrix -- a technique that greatly strengthens its resistance. With this composite material as a base research was initiated."

India’s Steel Plans through 2015

One of the defining features of the global steel industry is its tendency to build excess capacity. Not so when it comes to the Indian steel industry. As it is well known, China and India both began at the same level when India won Independence. But now, the dragon nation has leapfrogged us and gone so far ahead that comparisons sound ridiculous. In the last 6 years, China added a whopping 300 m tonnes when we added a mere 20 m tonnes. Not that India cannot make up for lost time. After all, we are blessed with abundant raw material, especially in the Eastern part of the country. The problem is delays over land acquisition and mineral rights. More transparency and professionalism could help overcome that.

In fact, there are several 10 to 12 m tonnes capacity Greenfield ventures lined up. Investors have rushed in to sign as many as 222 memoranda of understanding for building 276 m tonnes of new steel capacity. Not that all of them are willing or able. But the serious players have hung around despite the recent financial crisis. ArcelorMittal and Posco are still keen on India. And so are Tata Steel, JSW, JSPL and Essar. Little wonder then that the steel minister believes that India can become the second largest steel producer in the world by 2015, next only to China. But it is high time the government started helping these players and stopped dragging its feet.
Source: The 5 Minute Wrapup, March 3, 2010