Have you heard of the NNI? The United States government has a program called the "National Nanotechnology Initiative" that focuses on federal research and development (R&D). This program began in 2001 and the NNI has had some exciting developments over the last several years. Last month (May 2008), some of the research highlights include: using corn protein to create new skin and deliver medicines; nano-scale tracers to find the sources of pollution for farms and water supplies; creating 'super cloth' that can detect pathogens; and nano biosensors to detect diseases on farms and hospitals. Wow! The US government seems really serious about investing in nanotechnology research. Want to read more? Visit: http://www.nano.gov/