RFID to track sponges in operating rooms

RFID News reports that a VA medical center in Cleveland is working with an RFID company to track sponges used in operating rooms, making sure that none are left inside patients.  The article can be found here: http://dld.bz/adb54

The 311th birthday of Ewald van Kleist

311 years ago yesterday, Ewald Georg van Kliest was born.  He invented the Leyden Jar (i.e., the first capacitor). 

 

Of course, capacitors have come a long way since then.  Today's ultracapacitors (also known as "supercapacitors" or "electric double layer" [EDL] capacitors) can have 1,000,000+ times the capacitance of traditional capacitors.

 

Also, ultracapacitors can have 10 to 100 times the power and 1000 times the cycle life of batteries.  They tend to fall short, however, when one compares the energy density of ultracapacitors to batteries.

 

If you have a minute, check out our video titled "What is an ultracapacitor?" on our YouTube channel (it only lasts 60 seconds).  Here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/enableipc 

 

If you want to know more about ultracapacitors and Enable IPC's technology, check out our website's write up: http://www.enableipc.com/ultracapacitors.htm

 

And, we have some papers and presentations available for more in-depth information: http://www.enableipc.com/papers_ultracapacitors.htm 

The White House: Supporting the Responsible Realization of Nanotechnology's Full Potential

The White House is interested in the supporting the "realization of nanotechnology's full potential".  The Office of Science and Technology announced the release of a report that concludes that, not only has the National Nanotechnology Initiative's $12 billion investment in nanotech over the past 10 years been extraordinarily successful, but that it should be continued to ensure "continued U.S. dominance" in the area.

The following are some of the areas affected by nanotechnology that are discussed or mentioned in the report:

- water purification

- nano-medicines

- adaptive camouflage

- self-healing armor

- self-decontaminating clothing

- sensors for a myriad of applications

- nanostructured materials for transportation that are stronger and lighter, and therefore energy-saving

- catalyst breakthroughs, leading to huge improvements in clean, sustainable and plentiful energy

and many other examples.

Among other things, the report also states that, in the next 10 years, it expects "nanotechnology-enabled diagnosis, imaging, and therapy [that] will provide superior new methodologies for the management of cancer"; initiatives to address "Nanotechnology Applications for Solar Energy, Sustainable Nanomanufacturing, and Nanoelectronics for 2020 and Beyond"; and "a stronger focus on fundamental issues related to environmental health and safety."

The announcement can be found on the White House's Office of Science and Technology website here: http://dld.bz/acMvp

The report (96 pages long and 5+MB) can be downloaded here: http://1.usa.gov/k5UmpL

New research from NIST: Catching and releasing nanoparticles helps determine if they are safe

Nanoparticle safety has become a major worry in recent years.  In 2007, there was evidence discovered that some nanoparticles could damage DNA and lead to cancer.  This led to a call for studies on the safety of different types of nanoparticles. 

Yesterday, an article we found online at Science Daily's website (here's a link: http://dld.bz/acJmM) discussed some work along these lines by researchers at NIST.  They figured out a way to capture nanoparticles, where they could be exposed to cells to see whether they are pose a hazard, then released. 

The Dow at 20,000 by the 2012 election?

MSN posted an article yesterday that explains the reasoning behind one hedge fund manager and investor's prediction that the Dow Jones Industrial Average will hit 20,000 by the end of 2012. 

James Altucher cites the Fed's purchase of long-term Treasury bonds, the extension of the Bush tax cuts, a "multiplier effect" from the stimulus and the fact that corporations, some experiencing record profits, have begun (or will soon begin) spending.

He has his detractors, of course . . . but we hope he's right!  Here's a link to the article: http://dld.bz/aceve

Another use for RFID: tracking the flights of honey bees!

A group of honey bees were tracked by researchers using RFID tags.  According to an article in RFID News, "each bee was equipped with a RFID tag - a Microsensys mic3-TAG 64-D - on the thorax carrying a unique 64-bit number, allowing the researchers to individually track the experimental bee’s flight behavior."

 

The researchers recorded the bees coming and going over a period of days.  The full article at rfidnews.org can be found here:  http://dld.bz/abZgE .  There is also a link in the article to the technical paper describing the research.  In addition, a close-up picture of one of the tags on a bee can be found on page 2 of the pdf file here: http://bit.ly/jaI48i 

"Engines of Creation" - published 25 years ago this month

25 years ago this month, "Engines of Creation" was published.  This classic book by K Eric Drexler introduced nanotechnology into the public discussion.