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Nanotechnology, loosely described as the science of small, “is not about miniaturization; it’s the exploitation of new phenomena” as Ateneo de Manila University’s Dr. Fabian Dayrit explains. 

Nanotechnology enables scientists to look into the molecular or atomic level of matter and its possible uses or applications never previously explored or predicted. Imagine splitting a hair strand vertically into 80,000 pieces- that is the size of a nanometer. At such tiny scale, according to Dayrit, matter has certain properties and functions that can not be found or used in larger dimensions.

With an elbow room of about one to 100 nanometers, scientists can actually design and control things at such a minute size and come up with extraordinary products.

Now nanotechnology has aided the production of lighter tennis rackets with nanotubes, more durable tennis balls with nanoparticles, straight-flying golf balls, water-repelling pants, and nano socks that don’t stink.

There are plenty of nanotechnology products that hardly make conversation pieces. The DVD, for one, stores massive information contained in a film feature – sounds, movements, colors, graphics, etc – in several bumps, each at 320 nanometers wide, still far thinner than a hair strand.

The cellular phone that used to be so humungous has shrunk to just a few millimeters thick. Flash drives, too, used to be fashionable at 256 kilobytes but now can hold 16 gigabytes of data within the same physical size. In just a few seasons, small sized flash drives and mp4 players with terabytes capacity (1,024 gigabytes = 1 terabyte) will be standard accessories.

Thanks to nanotechnology, society now has these conveniences.

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DOST named anti-graft champion. The Department of Science and Technology ranked 5th in the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission’s Top 10 Anti-Graft Champions for the first half of 2009. Other DOST agencies that made it to the list include the Science and Technology Information Institute, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, DOST Region 3, and National Research Council of the Philippines (8th place); Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (9th place); and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (10th place). Receiving the award for STII is its Officer-in-Charge Ma. Isabel Carag-Dario (left) who is concurrently Asst. Secretary of the Office of the Press Secretary, along with Tony Kwok, Hong Kong anti-corruption expert; PAGC Chair Constancia De Guzman, and PAGC Exec. Dir. Cristin Manalang, and Comm. Belinda Salcedo. The anti-graft champions were selected for compliance to the Integrity Development Action Plan, the national anti-graft framework that focuses on corruption prevention, education, deterrence, and strategic partnership. [S&T Media Service]

 

 

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Dr. Marilyn Baguinon, a US-based scientist recently laid the building blocks of biotechnology researches in northern Philippines at the Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte. Through a short-term grant under the Department of Science and Technology’s Balik Scientist Program, Dr. Baguinon introduced to researchers and students the basics of biotechnology research and development, and trained them on the methods in biotechnology R&D activities.

Baguinon is an expert in biotechnology, microbiology, and biochemistry, and also currently associate professor in Kutztown University in Pennsylvania in the US.. She is also a former MMSU assistant professor.

 “The students are very interested in biotechnology and they have many questions,” observed Baguinon who served as resource person during the Regional Science and Technology Week in August. She also helped the university in preparing a research proposal on “Molecular characterization of isolates for first and second generation feedstock for ethanol production” intended for external funding.

It is MMSU’s first time to get on a biotech research, so Baguinon has to train researchers initially on molecular techniques. Moreover, in close coordination with MMSU President Miriam E. Pascua, Dr. Baguinon prepared a list of equipment and materials to start a biotechnology laboratory in the university.

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 Dr. Marilyn Baguinon

 

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Dr. Guillermo Mendoza

 

 

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Philippine Science High School Davao campus student Al Tristan Bandiola shows “King Spider”, a spider robot that’s capable to interact through sensors attached on its frame. This PSHS-Davao’s futuristic gizmo and other mostly food items produced by Mindanao based SMEs, which received DOST assistance such as product and process enhancement and technology related services were on display Sept. 23-27 during the Mindanao Cluster Science and Technology Fair in SM City Davao hosted by DOST Region XI. [Joy M. Lazcano, S&T Media Service]