Overview

Hype, hope, or horror? A vivid look at nanotechnology, written by an insider and experienced science writer. The variety of new products and technologies that will spin out of nanoscience is limited only by the imagination of the scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs drawn to this new field. Steve Edwards concentrates on the reader's self interest: no military gadgets, wild fantasies of horror nanobot predators and other sci-fi stuff, but presents a realistic view of how this new field of technology will affect people in the near future. He is in close contact with many pioneers in nanotechnology, and includes their backgrounds to allow readers, especially college students considering a career in the field, to better imagine themselves in such positions. However, technology does not develop in a vacuum, and this book also looks at the social, political and economic changes attendant upon the development of nanotechnology. For the science-interested general public as well as chemists, students, lecturers, chemical organizations, materials scientists, journalists, politicians, industry, physicists, and biologists.

Full Product Details

Author:   Steven A. Edwards (S. A. Edwards & Assoc., Christiana, TN, USA)
Publisher:   Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH
Imprint:   Blackwell Verlag GmbH
Dimensions:   Width: 17.30cm , Height: 1.60cm , Length: 24.40cm
Weight:   0.612kg
ISBN:  

9783527312900

ISBN 10:   3527312900
Pages:   257
Publication Date:   20 January 2006
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Out of Print
Availability:   In Print  
Limited stock is available. It will be ordered for you and shipped pending supplier's limited stock.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Promise of Nanotechnology DEFINING NANOTECHNOLOGY TOP-DOWN VERSUS BOTTOM-UP MANUFACTURING WHAT IS IN SOOT? - DIFFERENT FORMS OF CARBON AN ALTERNATIVE NATURE MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO 'ROUND WHO KNOWS ABOUT NANO? THE PROMISE OF NANO SKEPTICS CONTEMPORANEOUS HISTORY Chapter 2: The Visionaries RICHARD FEYNMAN K. ERIC DREXLER RALPH MERKLE RAY KURZWEIL CRITICISM OF THE DREXLERIAN VISION JAMES VON EHR MIKE ROCO Chapter 3: On the Road to Nano- LITHOGRAPHY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY SUPRAMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY Chapter 4: Nanotools THE ELECTRON MICROSCOPE SCANNING PROBE MICROSCOPES: STM, AFM AND VARIANTS THEREOF ANGSTROVISION NANOMANIPULATORS Chapter 5: Nanoparticles and Other Nanomaterials DISCOVERING THE BUCKYBALL CARBON NANOTUBES DENDRIMERS Antibodies and anti-antibodies Dendrimers as sensors Dendrimers as Drugs Dendrimeric Displays QUANTUM DOTS Colloidal Quantum Dots Quantum Dots in Biology and Medicine Quantum Dots in Electronics Chapter 6: Learning From Old Mother Nature THE GECKO'S FOOT THE EYE OF THE STARFISH---THE OPTICAL NETWORK OF THE SPONGE THE ABALONE'S SHELL DIATOMS-THE ORIGINAL SILICON CHIPS NATURAL NANOTUBES SYNTHETIC NERVE MEMBRANES CO-OPTING BIOLOGY Chapter 7: Nanoelectronics SPINTRONICS NANOTUBE MEMORY CHIPS: NRAM NANOWIRES THIN FILMS OF GLOWING POLYMERS NANOROBOTICS Chapter 8: Nanotech Enabled Biomedicine Stages DELIVERING DRUGS MEDICAL IMAGING-X-Ray Tubes MAKING THE WORLD SAFE FOR MRI (PLUS SOME OTHER STUFF) Other Contrast Agents NANOSHELLS FOR THERAPY PUMPS THE STRANGE CASE OF NANOBACTERIA MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS Smart Dust Nanoarrays for Biomedical Assays MOVING WATER AROUND, A LITTLE AT A TIME NANOSCALE ANTENNA CONTROLS DNA ARTIFICIAL JOINTS ARTIFICIAL ORGANS The Artificial Retina Brain/Machine Interface ARTIFICIAL CELLS RE-INVENTING BIOLOGY Chapter 9: Financing Nanotech Dreams CHARLIE HARRIS, VENTURE CAPITALIST IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL NANOTECH INITIATIVE Chapter 10: Mega-Sized Projects that Could Use Tiny Technology--Three Somewhat Grandiose Challenges ENERGY-INDEPENDENCE FROM FOSSIL FUELS Green energy THE SPACE ELEVATOR BUILDING A QUANTUM COMPUTER How do you build a quantum computer? Chapter 11: Fear of Nano--Dangers and Ethical Challenges THE GREY GOO SCENARIO THE GREEN GOO SCENARIO ENVIRONMENTAL CATASTROPHE DUE TO INHALEABLE OR INGESTIBLE NANOPARTICLES PEOPLE WILL LIVE FOREVER LEADING TO OVERPOPULATION ONLY RICH PEOPLE WILL LIVE FOREVER NANOTECHNOLOGY WILL TURN US INTO CYBORGS NANOTECHNOLOGY COULD CREATE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION NANOTECH WILL CREATE MACHINES THAT ARE SMARTER THAN HUMAN BEINGS NANOTECH WILL HASTEN THE ARRIVAL OF THE SINGULARITY REGULATING NANOTECH Chapter 12: Final Thoughts on The Destination

Reviews

""A vivid and realistic look at nanotechnology, written by an insider and experienced science writer, providing a view of how this new field will affect people in the near future. The author looks at the social, political and economic changes involved."" Enviromental Science and Polution Research ""In a very easy going journalistic style the author takes the reader on a journey through the subject touching on current technology, which is already having an impact on our lives, to future technology... The author has clearly taken time to talk to leaders in the field and as a result the book is full on interesting quotes and analogies ... In summary, if you have a passing interest in nanotechnology and fancy a light read as well as a change from scaremongering and ill informed nanotechnology-related novels I would fully recommend this book."" Chemistry World ""Edwards writes with such passion that it is hard not to be infected with the nanotech bug. His words fill the reader with optimism that nanotechnology really is the next big thing."" The Lancet ""... the author gives an excellent overview of the development of nanotechnology and the pioneers themselves explain their social, political and economic background. ...provides a realistic view of this new technology giving easy-to-understand explanations of every key concept. Therefore, the author offers a plain and non-technical guide to the field of nanotechnology. This is an easy-to-understand introduction to nanotechnology. Hence, the book is recommendable to all experimental natural scientists in academic organizations as well as in industry. It is a brief, simple, almost math-free introduction, easy to understand and in no way boring."" Engineering in Life Sciences ""Anyone who has even a slight interest in science topics should read this book!"" Measurement & Control ""... the author appears to be a real human being, and his book is certainly worth reading."" Chemistry and Industry Buchnennung i.d. Rubrik ""Also of interest"" in: Chemical & Engineering News ""In conclusion, Edward's book is a good introduction to the huge and confusing field of nanotechnology. It is well written and contains a wealth of information, often in the form of simple tables, which can be useful for undergraduate and PhD students, as well as for teachers interested in where we are and where we are going to be. Which, unfortunately, is not where we should go."" Angewandte Chemie ""... clear...readily comprehensible to a general readership..."" Nature Nanotechnology ""...the book is recommendable to all experimental natural scientists in academic organizations as well as in industry. It is a brief, simple, almost math-free introduction, easy to understand and in no way boring."" Engineering in Life Sciences

...a very readable book with some interesting insights into the 'nanotech pioneers' leading the way. (CHOICE, September 2006) ...author has ...taken time to talk to leaders in the field...the book is full of interesting quotes and analogies. (Chemistry World, May 2006)

Author Information

Steve A. Edwards obtained his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of California in San Diego in 1980, then spent four years as an NIH postdoctoral fellow at Salk Institute at La Jolla, as well as holding a position of assistant professor at the biochemistry department of Meharry Medical College, Nashville. Since 1994, he has been a free-lance writer and from 1997 onwards, he has been a free-lance medical technology analyst for Business Communications Company, Inc., Norwalk. From 1998 on, he has taken on several editorial positions with BCC, serving as Contributing Editor for Medical Materials Update, Managing Editor of Applied Genetics News and Drug Discover/Technology News, and as editor for Nano-Bio Convergence News, Cell Therapy News, and Biomolecular Diagnostics News. From 2002 to date, he has also been Vice President (Technologies) at Phaelixe, Inc. He received the American Heart Association New Investigator Award (1991-1993) and the NHLBI Minority School Faculty Development Award (1992-1994).

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