Don't you just love the "for dummies" series? I hope the title doesn't personally offend anyone. I'm not calling anyone a dummy. I just like the book series.

So, have you read Nanotechnology for Dummies? This book is great because it breaks down the science into a simple, yet meaningful explanation. Many people have misconceptions about what nanotechnology is about. Some think that nanotechnology is just about microscopic robots. Others think that nanotechnology only applies to microchips and computer technology.

It's easy reading and also serves as a nice gift if you're ever in need of one. Visit Dummies.com to see all the other "for dummies" books.

What does it mean to be a nanotechnology expert? Have you ever wondered what type of education would be required? The application of nanotechnology spans across all industries. For instance, healthcare is a huge area where nanotechnology is revolutionizing the medical management of diseases and ailments. The electronics industry would be transformed if nanotechnology research brings forth batteries that have 10 times the power as existing rechargeable batteries.

I advise many high school students who are in the process of applying to college. Some have recently expressed their interest in nanotechnology and science. What major should this student select? Biomedical engineering? Materials science? Mathematics? Mechanical engineering? Chemistry? Physics? Cellular biology? The choices seem endless. Some colleges have a major called "nanoscience." The University of Guelph is the first to offer this major in Canada. What about "nano-engineering?" I wouldn't be surprised if these majors start popping up in the future. Perhaps they won't catch on for undergraduate degrees, but I can certainly see this happening for graduate studies.

Have you ever tried to use tape on a wet surface? It doesn't stick, does it? Scientists are finding so many incredible discoveries in nature. Researchers at MIT may be on the verge of discovering something never novel - a waterproof adhesive bandage that may close surgical wounds. They are getting their inspiration by looking at how geckos use their sticky feet to climb walls and even hang upside down. The adhesive is being designed using nanotechnology to build pillars and a sticky glue-like substance. Geckos have very sticky feet, but they can also lift their feet very easily. This new adhesive is being designed to be more permanent. Can you imagine using a bandage that has an adhesive that will stick to any type of wet surface? Isn't this great? Scientists are using nanotechnology to create a new type of adhesive. Over the last decade, we've seen new bandages and glues used to close wounds. Soldiers on the battlefield now have access to revolutionary wound closure systems. To read more about this new adhesive technology, visit the MIT news office. Photo: David Clements, via Wikimedia Source: MIT news

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In the past, nanostructured materials have been used to create an invisibility cloak that works in the microwave portion of the spectrum. Now, for the first time, team led by Igor Smolyaninov at the University of Maryland has used surface plasmonics and nanostructured materials to make an invisibility cloak that works in the visible light range - but only at a scale of microns, and in only two dimensions - for now.

My opinion is that this is an amazing advance. Along with the plastic as strong as steel, this really shows that nanostructured materials are making serious progress. It's just a matter of time before these are integrated into consumer products with properties that seem almost "magical" from the viewpoint of present-day consumers.

Last month I attended the first conference held by the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, and live-blogged it, taking over 40 pages of notes. Check it out here.

Speakers of note were Ned Seeman, pioneer in DNA nanotechnology, and Ralph Merkle, who has helped popularize molecular manufacturing.

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have created tiny nanoblades made out of magnesium. They used oblique angle deposition, which was previously thought to always create cylindrical structures like nanorods or nanosprings.

These blades are practically two-dimensional, with a thickness of only 15 nanometers. Now the researchers are looking for ways to coat these nanoblades with metallic catalysts so they can be used as high-density storage for hydrogen fuel cells.