If you happen to be visiting Greece this summer, you may want to swing by the 5th International Conference on Nanosciences & Nanotechnologies - NN08. This event is occurring mid-July 2008. Also, the 2nd International Summer School on "Nanosciences & Nanotechnologies"- SS-NN08 will also be happening in July. What a great way to meet researchers and learn about different advances occurring in nanotechnology. Some of the topics of interest include: Organic Electronics & Photonics and Nanoelectronics; Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine; Thin Films, Meta-materials and Spintronics; Nanomaterials, Nanoengineering and Nanomechanics; and many more.

Have you heard of the Nanopump? Well, Debiotech in Switzerland is developing the Nanopump to micro-dose medications by utilizing a volumetric membrane pump with a pair of check valves and integrating in a MEMS chip. According to their description: "The chip is a stack of 3 layers bonded together: a silicon on insulator (SOI) plate with micromachined pump-structures and two Pyrex cover plates with through-holes. This MEMS chip is assembled with a piezoelectric actuator that moves the membrane in a reciprocating movement to compress and decompress the fluid in the pumping chamber." Wow! The company is currently developing an insulin Nanopump and also a device that can be implanted into the body.

Researchers at Columbia University have published their research on the synthesis of thin, transparent, and highly catalytic carbon nanotube films. So what's the big deal? Well, these nanotube films could be used in many different applications. For instance, they may be used to create catalytic, transparent, and conducting electrodes for solar cells. Or, they could be used to improve batteries, fuel cells, and electroanalytical devices. Thanks to some collaborative efforts between chemical and mechanical engineers, this discovery may advance the nanotechnology industry.

Today is the 4th of July and on this day, I wish to write about the freedom associated with nanotechnology research. Last year, Professor Rao spoke at Bangalore Nano 2007, urging the government to provide greater freedom for research in nanotechnology. According to Wikipdeia, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and fifth-most populous urban agglomeration. I feel very fortunate to be living in the United States of America. Here, we celebrate freedom and independence on the 4th of July. Today is more than a national holiday. It is a reminder that we have the freedom to pursue research in areas that may improve this country and the rest of the world.

We've been seeing a lot of news lately about fake drugs. It seems so inhumane to be distributing fake drugs to people who may need these life-saving agents. Well, a company called NanoInk is developing some innovative nanoencryption technology that may help eliminate drug counterfeiting. NanoGuardian is a division of NanoInk that will enable drug manufacturers to track, trace and authenticate the integrity of their products across the supply chain. Want to learn more? Check out NanoInk.

Cartilage is an essential part of our bodies. Once lost, it's very difficult to replace. Our joints are particularly prone to wear and tear, especially as we get older. So how do we rebuild cartilage? Well, we normally can't, but researchers at Brown University may on the verge of something very exciting. Using carbon nanotubes combined with electrical pulses, researchers have demonstrated that cartilage may regenerate naturally in the body. This research is still very preliminary, but it provides hope for those who suffer from joint problems. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation under the federal National Nanotechnology Initiative.