by Andrew Maynard | Sep 3, 2008 | Nanotechnology, Oversight
Amidst the cacophony of debate swirling around the true meaning of nanotechnology, I head a voice or reason last week. The voice was that of Dr. Bernd Sachweh of BASF, speaking at the European Aerosol Conference in Thessoloniki. I paraphrase, but the essence of...
by Andrew Maynard | Jul 20, 2008 | Nanotechnology, Oversight, Policy
As the rate of technological progress advances, are we learning the lessons of past successes and failures? And are we applying these lessons successfully to nanotechnology? In 2001, the European Environment Agency (EEA) published a seminal report on developing...
by Andrew Maynard | Jun 21, 2008 | Environment, Nanotechnology, Oversight
Painted metal roofs are cheap, convenient, and usually very durable. But over the past two years, a rash of accelerated ageing has blighted pre-painted steel roofing in Australia. And intriguingly the ageing—which affects the coating—seems to be localized to small...
by Andrew Maynard | May 31, 2008 | Environment, Nanotechnology, Oversight, Policy
Why nano? Why care? For non-nanotech initiates, an obsession with nanotechnology must sometimes seem a bizarre occupation of the sad and lonely. And even within the nanotechnology community, who hasn’t had occasional doubts over the legitimacy of singling out...
by Andrew Maynard | May 21, 2008 | Nanotechnology, Oversight, Recommended
Mix carbon nanotubes and asbestos together (metaphorically) and you get an explosive mix—at least if news coverage of the latest publication coming out of Professor Ken Donaldson’s team is anything to go by. The research—published on-line today in Nature...
by Andrew Maynard | May 17, 2008 | Communication, Engagement, Nanotechnology, Oversight
“Nanotechnology” as an overarching concept is great for sweeping statements and sound bites, but falls short when it comes to real-world decision-making. As nanoscale technologies are increasingly used in everything from antimicrobial socks to anti-cancer...
