Rating System
Readability: 1 (not readable) to 10 (well written)
Information: 1 (little info conveyed; simply a glitz piece) to 10 (very informative)
Level: 1 (elementary education required), 5 (high school level), 10 (PhD required)
EE Times
“Quantum Will Be the Normal State”
Summary: A discussion on Doctor Chuang, a PhD in electrical engineering who
set out to disprove the idea of a quantum computer and eventually created one.
Readability: 6 / Information: 4 / Level: 7 / Overall: 6
Comments: The article focuses more on Chuang than on quantum computers; as a
result, information is limited. The idea of the article (Chuang setting out
to disprove q.c.’s and eventually creating one) is fascinating. However,
the article is not terribly well written (there is a gap toward the beginning)
and information is limited.
IBM Research News
“IBM’s Test Tube Quantum Computer Makes History”
Summary: IBM’s 7-qubit quantum computer is able to factor the number 15
into 5 and 3. The article speculates on possible implications of quantum computing
and includes several pictures. It delves briefly into what a qubit is, but focuses
more on the actual triumph of constructing a simple quantum computer.
Readability: 10 / Information: 7 / Level: 7 / Overall: 9
Comments: A very well-written and easily understandable article that gives a
captivating look at the results of atomic manipulation and understanding. The
information is somewhat limited, but the article should be excellent for undergraduates
of any technical degree.
“Research Areas in Nanotechnology”
Summary: An IBM tutorial that gives definitions for Nanotechnology and briefly
discusses areas within the nanotech field, as well as reasons for studying nanotechnology.
Ratings Not Applicable
“IBM Scientists Build World’s Smallest Operating Computer
Circuits”
Summary: A discussion on IBM’s molecule cascade circuit. The article focuses
on a description of how the circuit uses the basic interactions of molecules
/ atoms rather than the transfer of electrons to convey information. It talks
about problems with the circuit, and includes a movie to show how the atoms
interact to form a logic gate.
Readability: 10 / Information: 9 / Level: 6 / Overall: 10
Comments: With the included movie showing the molecule cascade, this article
is a wonderful way to show progress in nanotechnology, and shows how nanotechnology
is more than simply shrinking existing technology. I would highly recommend
this article along with a presentation of the molecule cascade on computer.
Bell Labs Innovations
“Bell Labs to Collaborate on Flexible Displays”
Summary: A look at research into flexible displays that can be printed and rolled
up. The article compares the possibilities of the flexible display versus modern
glass screens.
Readability: 9 / Information: 3 / Level: 5 / Overall: 6
Comments: The article focuses a bit more on the glitz and glamour of nanotechnology.
There is little information on how the flexible screens are to be created, but
it is well-written and is a good look at industrial applications of nanotechnology.
UC Berkley News
“Physicists Build World’s Smallest Motor Using Nanotubes and Etched
Silicon”
Summary: A look at UC Berkley’s nano-scale motor. The article contrasts
nano-motors with micro-motors and gives a glimpse of the possible uses of such
a feat. The latter part of the article discusses the construction of the motor.
Readability: 8 / Information: 10 / Level: 8 / Overall: 10
Summary: The article is much more informative than most, but crams a lot of
information into a somewhat short piece. As a result, it is probably necessary
for most readers to go through it twice. The animated image imbedded in the
article gives a good look at the difference between a motor on the nano-scale
and a macroscopic device. Like the “molecule cascade” article from
IBM, the piece from UC Berkley gives a great example of nanotechnology being
more than shrinking modern machinery. I would highly recommend it as reading
for class. Scientific American
“Nanotech: It’s Not Easy Being Green”
Summary: This article looks at the controversy surrounding research in nanotechnology,
comparing it to a similar situation in which proponents of genetically engineered
food found themselves. Arguments from both sides are included. Opponents are
worried about the environmental impacts of nanotechnology while researchers
insist that everything is being carried out in the open and can be accessed
by virtually anyone who wants to study it.
Readability: 8 / Information: 6 / Level: 5 / Overall: 6
Comments: I feel that it is important to include all arguments when dealing
with any field. This article does more that simply look at emerging technologies;
it also looks at possible negative impacts of nanotechnology (even if one does
not agree with the arguments). I am unclear how opponents can be against the
entirety of the nanotech field, which appears to be the case. That is also why
the rating is rather low. However, the article does name specific opposition
groups, so if someone were interested, it would likely be easy to pursue it
further.
“Little Big Science”
Summary: This article is several years old, but is an interesting insight into
the beginnings of nano-research and government funding. It discusses some of
the emerging nanotech research areas and the establishments of government funding
programs.
Readability: 10 / Information: 6 / Level: 5 / Overall: 8
Comments: Students would have to keep in mind that some of the might-be’s
have already happened, but this article should be good for an introductory look
at nanotechnology.
“New DNA Computer Functions Sans Fuel”
Summary: A short article on the development of a biological computer. The research
team of Ehud Shapiro has said that they have now done computations without an
external fuel source. The rest of the article examines possible implications.
Readability: 9 / Information: 5 / Level: 5 / Overall: 7
“Researchers Put Rogue Proteins to Work Assembling”
Summary: A short article that discusses using proteins as a base for nano-wiring.
Readability: 7 / Information: 4 / Level: 6 / Overall: 5
Comments (for the 2 above articles): Both articles are a bit more glitzy than
informative. The possibilities, however, are intriguing and may interest students
more focused on medicine or biology.
United Press International
“Germ-Killing Joint Implants”
Summary: A look at implants that will incorporate nanotechnology to stave off
infections, which cause 2 to 3 % of joint replacements to fail. Much of the
article focuses on the problems associated with joint failure. There is a brief
explanation of how the incorporated MEMS technology will work.
Readability: 10 / Information: 6 / Level: 5 / Overall: 7
Comments: A somewhat elementary application of MEMS, but one that will still
save billions of dollars in the medical community. The technical focus of this
article is minimal. New York Times
“Nanocontainers Deliver Drugs Directly to Cells”
Summary: Nano-scales polymers are fabricated to target cells, so that lower
doses of potentially harmful medications can be used.
Readability: 10 / Information: 6 / Level: 5 / Overall: 7
Comments: Again, there is little description on the formation of the nano-containers.
However, the medical possibilities that stem from nanotechnology are certainly
shown.