During the talk of Roderick Lim, which included not only a lot of information about the nucleopore complex, but also Lim’s idea of an equilibrium between nano and bio, a question arose in my head.  In Lim’s understanding this would denote a bidirectional exchange: Taking a look at biological systems from the nano-point of view [...]

The definition of the nanoscience is a strange one. Its counters are – at least partly – dictated by size: objects below one micron are currently called “nano”. Often the use of the nano-label is mainly motivated by financial interest.
Nonetheless, after yesterdays discussion about scaling, it becomes clear today that size does matter! This becomes [...]

What can’t you do with atomic force microscopy (AFM)?
These days it seems sometimes as if AFM would be the universal technique applicable to simply everything: from geological samples, (human) tissue, entire bacteria and cells to (membrane) proteins, in biology, and down to single molecules on the lower, physical limit. More exotic application examples are the skin of [...]

“When we know the exact climate response to increasing concentrations of CO2 it may be too late”
In his talk, Torben R. Jensen showed the problems of  carbon based energy sources and he proposed some alternatives.
What are the possible solutions for our energy problem?

Saving energy: Is it true that more efficiency would lead to more production [...]

For all the people not attending the INASCON:
This afternoon we had a workshop about scaling and dimensionalities in science and especially biology. It was quite a lot of fun and interesting discussions were started. To give you some insight, I picked a few especially funny scaling examples. They are all taken from J. B. S. [...]

As introduced in the last post, the topic of the first interactive workshop was scaling.
Thereby the conference attendants have proven creativity: starting with scaling in zoology over to semi-conductor industries and materials science (keyword: porosity, surface effects,…), the statement of “CPUs being 2-dimensional brains” was made.
Stimulated by the instructions, discussions went further on towards the [...]

Politicians nowadays claim that consumers have to be informed about products containing “nano”.
But what is nano?
Is it helpful when you want to buy suncream and there is written “contains nano-particles” on it?
Do you know more about its risk or hazards?
Do you know more about its contains or fabrication process?
There are so many kinds of nano [...]

During an extensive talk of Stéphanie Lacour on the law concerning nanoscience, the following question came in to my mind:
In what exactly differs nano-science from other innovative science or technology branches when (patent) law is concerned?
Often it has been insisted that the development within the field is so fast that the legislative situation is difficult [...]

Here it is!
The INASCON 09 started today with attendees from more than 10 european countries.
Following the typical initial hide and seek concerning rooms, halls and the cafeteria, the first presentation of Prof. C.Schönenberger  started and has raised the first questions already:
Will there be electronic devices based on single molecules?
Is there no way to escape molecules [...]

Welcome to the INASCON’s official live blog !!

This is the site where contents of, opinions about or new ideas related to the third International NAnoscience Students CONference are discussed.