Nano-Yarn

The podcast I am doing my review on is from Science Friday on January 7^th, 2011.  It was titled ‘Building a Nano-Yarn.  Researchers at several institutions have used nano-tube structures as a yarn and incorporated other materials to create a fabric with unique characteristics.  In the past, yarns have been used to make clothing that has the function of protecting skin, keeping a person warm, or even making them look more attractive.  The current fabrics being created by these scientists will have additional functions like being able to conduct heat or electricity or even acting as a battery.  These materials could be used as clothing or even in structures of cars or buildings.  There are endless possibilities when you have a lightweight , flexible and strong material with properties such as acting as a battery.  One specific application is being able to make a fabric that could actually metabolize glucose from the liquid around it and produce electricity.  This could be used with implants inside the human body that need a source of endless energy.

This type of technology is new and very expensive.  As methods are improved and perfected some of the materials created could lead to better medical implants that don’t require routine surgery to replace the batteries.  Cars could have the batteries woven into the frame and structure rather than requiring large and heavy batteries in the trunk.  Even the clothes we wear may be able to power our cell phones or detect an health abnormality that could lead to saving our lives.  It is exciting to think of all the possibilities.

This technology affects my life in a way that could be very positive.  If fabrics are created that are net producers of energy, they may act to reduce the resources I consume.  These fabrics may save my life some day if they detect a change in my heart rate or respiration due to illness.  I wonder about the negative effects of these materials as well.  Could the powders or materials woven into these fabrics have a health risk of their own?  Would they break down after being washed and lose their abilities to perform correctly?  Much research and improvements undoubtedly need to be done, but overall it makes me excited about the future of chemistry and material science.

http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201101071

New Clock – Not a Wristwatch!

The following podcast discusses some of the applications of being able to measure time very accurately.  We know it changes depending on your velocity or position on earth.  How would you like to carry that watch around in your pocket?

http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201009241

Quantum Effects

It is interesting to see quantum realities observed on a really small scale.  High temperatures often make it impossible to see the distinct levels between different energy states for atoms and/or particles.  It isn’t that difficult to imagine an electron acting ‘non-classical’ - so acting like waves, but atoms in molecules take a bit more imagination.  This article is sort of analogous to this concept – the atoms (which we think of as little billiard balls) are interacting like waves. 

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=quantum-chemistry

Catching Carbon Dioxide

Methods for capturing small molecules with metal coordination complexes always fascinates me.  Molecules are always being developed to capture gas that we either want to store (like hydrogen) or get rid of (like carbon dioxide).  This summary article highlights a method of capturing CO2 as oxalate, which can be used to make other molecules.

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/88/i03/8803notw2.html

Amazing Slug…

There may be some possibilities here…?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34824610/ns/technology_and_science-science/?GT1=43001

Eggnog Anyone?

Now this is a neat experiment.  These researchers wanted to find out why their eggnog never infected anyone with salmonella bacteria EVEN when it is made with 12 raw eggs.  Something magical happened between week 1 and week 3 as the brew aged inside a chill chest.  I still think I will purchase my ‘nog’ from the dairy section, but this is worth a watch.

http://cdn1.libsyn.com/sciencefriday/eggnog-121809.mp4?nvb=20091222152648&nva=20091223153648&t=0141aab581d251d6e05b6

Simulating Protein Functions

I am always amazed at the complexity of biological structures.  There is so much freedom at the atomic level and we sometimes forget that until we find out how difficult it is to simulate the motions with computer.  This article shows attempts to simulate protein functions using graphics processing units.  This is the 2nd article I have read recently on using gaming technology for something other than… well… gaming.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=gpu-aids-photosynthesis

Allergy Season

I know that I suffer from allergies during small parts of the year.  This podcast from Science Friday covers this annoying topic.  It is interesting to hear about the water soluble enzymes on pollen that illicit an immune response in humans.  If you have allergies or know someone who does, this is worth a listen.

http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200904242

The Soul of Medicine:

Sherwin Nuland’s Tales from the Bedside

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about E. Coli Part I: Scientific American Podcast

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about E. Coli Part I: Scientific American Podcast

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Carl Zimmer discusses his book on E. Coli and there are some interesting historical pieces in this first podcast.  I recently went to a talk that discuss the possibility of “kissing” developing to pass useful bacteria back and forth between people and I was reminded of this when I listened to this podcast.  Certainly, we have gained much knowledge from studying more simple species and learning how genes are  activated, deactivated, and passed from one cell to another.