At least in some mice injected with them.

That’s a relief, no?

So while the study is cause for some concern, it’s no reason to demonize carbon nanotubes, which have proved themselves quite useful in everything from electrical circuits to drug delivery mechanisms. At least not without doing a bit more research.

“Carbon nanotubes have great potential as a unique material that can be used in many unique and beneficial ways–from reducing our environmental impact to curing diseases,” Andrew Maynard, chief science adviser to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, wrote in a post to his Web log. “But missteps now could easily undermine trust in this nascent industry, and prevent the material’s potential from being realized. The comparison with asbestos is firmly grounded in the physical resemblance between certain forms of the two materials, and this alone should stimulate clear action to ensure safe use. But the health impacts of asbestos exposure still resonate through society–deaths from asbestos-related disease are not expected to peak for another 10 years–and the mere suggestion of similarities between nanotubes and asbestos fibers could cause investors and users to shy away from this new technology unless there are clear assurances that health and safety concerns are being fully addressed.”

At least in some mice injected with them.

That’s a relief, no?

So while the study is cause for some concern, it’s no reason to demonize carbon nanotubes, which have proved themselves quite useful in everything from electrical circuits to drug delivery mechanisms. At least not without doing a bit more research.

“Carbon nanotubes have great potential as a unique material that can be used in many unique and beneficial ways–from reducing our environmental impact to curing diseases,” Andrew Maynard, chief science adviser to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, wrote in a post to his Web log. “But missteps now could easily undermine trust in this nascent industry, and prevent the material’s potential from being realized. The comparison with asbestos is firmly grounded in the physical resemblance between certain forms of the two materials, and this alone should stimulate clear action to ensure safe use. But the health impacts of asbestos exposure still resonate through society–deaths from asbestos-related disease are not expected to peak for another 10 years–and the mere suggestion of similarities between nanotubes and asbestos fibers could cause investors and users to shy away from this new technology unless there are clear assurances that health and safety concerns are being fully addressed.”

Scientists at Cornell University’s Baker Institute for Animal Health have nearly managed to reproduce (no pun intended) the minute biological engine that powers a sperm’s flagellum. That engine runs on a high-energy molecule called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which sperm create via a metabolic process known as glycolysis.

Now, glycolysis requires 10 enzymes attached in the proper sequence to occur in the body. What the Cornell scientists hope to do is make it occur on a tiny gold chip covered with nickel ions. So far, they have attached three of the 10 enzymes to do that. If they’re able to attach the remaining seven, that little gold chip should generate enough ATP to power a nanodevice. Should that occur, their achievement could usher in a new era of smart in-body medical devices that use blood glucose as fuel.

Said Dr. Erkki Ruoslahti, a nanotechnology researcher at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research in La Jolla, Calif., “Having some sort of way of being able to power nanodevices is the No. 1 bottleneck in constructing really clever devices.”

Scientists at Cornell University’s Baker Institute for Animal Health have nearly managed to reproduce (no pun intended) the minute biological engine that powers a sperm’s flagellum. That engine runs on a high-energy molecule called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which sperm create via a metabolic process known as glycolysis.

Now, glycolysis requires 10 enzymes attached in the proper sequence to occur in the body. What the Cornell scientists hope to do is make it occur on a tiny gold chip covered with nickel ions. So far, they have attached three of the 10 enzymes to do that. If they’re able to attach the remaining seven, that little gold chip should generate enough ATP to power a nanodevice. Should that occur, their achievement could usher in a new era of smart in-body medical devices that use blood glucose as fuel.

Said Dr. Erkki Ruoslahti, a nanotechnology researcher at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research in La Jolla, Calif., “Having some sort of way of being able to power nanodevices is the No. 1 bottleneck in constructing really clever devices.”