NOV/DEC 2003

NANOTECHNOLOGY

What Colour Is Gold?
Paul Mulvaney finds that gold nanocrystals are also red, purple, blue and green, opening new opportunities for optical devices and other applications.

Pollution’s Sweet Solution
Michael Moylan describes a new sugar-based material with 0.5 nm pores that may be used to clean up oil spills.

Nanoengineering Smart Particles
Frank Caruso explains how to engineer molecular structures with applications in the delivery of drugs or as confined environments for chemistry.

Manipulating Viruses to Grow Semiconductors
Angela Belcher explains how viruses are being used to grow semiconductor wires.

Thermodynamic Limits to Nanomachines
Denis Evans reveals why nanomachines will run backwards part of the time.

Nanotechnology Raises Big Issues
Vijoleta Braach-Maksvytis raises concerns about potential military, health and environmental issues arising from nanotechnology.

FEATURES

Fox on the Run
Traditional methods of fox control also put native wildlife at risk. Clive Marks describes new technologies that will target foxes specifically and humanely.

Early Warning Focus on Health
Julian Cribb reports on CSIRO’s new focus on preventing chronic illness by attempting to detect the first molecular indicators of disease.

Cross-breeding the Key to Coral Success
Madeleine van Oppen, Bette Willis and David Miller overturn the notion that cross-fertilisation between related species is only significant in the evolution of plants.

Cholesterol Linked to Cell Communication Breakdown
Tapping into the ways that our cells communicate with each other could give an early warning of heart disease, according to Katharina Gaus.

The Real Cost of Storing Carbon Underground
Simon Grose examines a dispute that is attempting to undermine the independence of the government’s chief scientific adviser.

CSIRO’s Boss Shifting Ground
Last year, Geoff Garrett aborted a pre-arranged interview with Peter Pockley by declining to answer any questions. Now, at his request, he speaks without restrictions.

conScience

Reckless Squandering of Talent Hurts the Knowledge Economy
The government must dramatically improve career paths for young scientists, says Snow Barlow.