HIgh school NanoTechnology Summers Camp

UC Berkeley has recently released a summer camp to help raise awareness of the growing importance of the field.
To find out more, go to: http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/programs/high_school_nanotechnology_summer_camp_framework or http://www.nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/8416/high_school_nanocamp.pdf
or for the program schedule: http://www.nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/8416/nano_camp_outline_example.pdf

Nanotrain?

How do we currently make chemical reactions occur more quickly? The answer: Catalysts. The future may use Nanotrains.

Though in their beginning stages, Nanotrains have the potential to bring together chemicals in one place to speed up reactions. They do this by using a protein called kinesin, which is a motor protein. This means that it can move along the track. Nanobots are formed when two of these kinesin molecules are bound together to make the network of tracks. Once these nanobots create this track, a "shuttle" (which is made up of 1 kinesin protein) is bonded to a chemical or molecule. Finally, ATP (the unit of energy in cells) is added to the shuttles, and cause them to follow the tracks to the center, focal point of the network of tracks. This is called the "hub" and it the destination of the chemicals. 

At the moment, Only a series of fluorescent dyes have been transported to such a hub. However, this a foundation to a technology that may prove to be very useful.

For a video of the reaction and more information, click here.

Green: The shuttles
Red: The tracks