February 2010

US government kicks nanotechnology safety research up a gear

by Andrew Maynard February 18, 2010

It looks like the US is heading for some serious action on addressing the safe development and use of nanotechnology-enabled materials, products and processes in 2011.  Reading through the just-released National Nanotechnology Initiative’s (NNI) Supplement to the President’s 2011 budget [PDF, 1.2 MB], there are some noteworthy inclusions:

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Why I don’t believe in technology innovation

by Andrew Maynard February 17, 2010

Sitting here in Denver Airport, I think I have finally lost my faith in technology innovation.  And the reason?  That fiendish creation of the Gates empire, Microsoft Word. Like a good believer, I have persevered with my faith in technology innovation as a driver of social progress.  There have been niggling doubts for sure.  But [...]

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24 questions and answers on nanotechnology safety

by Andrew Maynard February 12, 2010

Well I guess I set myself up good and proper – I should have realized that in asking people for their questions on nanotechnology safety last week, they would actually want answers! Having failed miserably to compile a catalog of websites that provide clear and concise answers to the questions asked in last week’s blog [...]

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Nanotechnology safety: We’ve got the answers, now what was the question?

by Andrew Maynard February 12, 2010

Last Friday I posted 24 questions on nanotechnology safety provided by folks on Twitter and FaceBook, in a naive attempt to see if people could find matching answers on the web.  Predictably perhaps, there weren’t too many responses.  This wasn’t too surprising – I’m beginning to realize that asking for feedback on the web is [...]

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Twenty nanotechnology safety questions in search of answers

by Andrew Maynard February 5, 2010

I should warn you in advance – this is an interactive blog – there’s something I want from you!  I have a question – where do ordinary people go to get information on nanotechnology safety? Feeling a little lazy I thought I would get you – the loyal 2020 Science readership – to help me [...]

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Nanotechnology researchers at sea when it comes to safety

by Andrew Maynard February 2, 2010

If you ever wanted proof that the nanotechnology research community is floundering when it comes to safe working practices, look no further than a paper just published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.  The paper, written by researchers at the Nanoscience Institute of Aragon (NIA) in Spain, surveys nanosafety practices in labs around the world.  Sadly, [...]

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