Emerging Technology Trends #1

“As a young citizen of India, armed with technology and love for my nation, I realize, a small aim is a crime” said by none other than respected Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam known as "Missile Man of India". Sounds Inspirational, right? The world is changing and so as the technologies are getting updated. New innovations, research and developments in making new products are coming up which will help in meeting the human needs. We don't know what will happen in future. May be all industries will get automated thus avoiding human-machine interactions, may be vehicles on the road will fly in the future, robots may replace humans in all aspects, more medical facilities, more renewable energy sources will come into picture. But one thing will never stop that's nothing but the "technological innovations" or you can say advancements in technology will never end. So we are here with another article or an article series which is on "Emerging Technologies". There are lot of departments or areas or fields where technological advancements are going on. So here we are first focusing on the topic known as "Nanotechnology". Let's look what developments are going on this field.  

NANOTECHNOLOGY

Nano-science and Nanotechnology are the study and application or manipulation of matter of an atomic molecular and supra-molecular scale and can be used across all other science fields such as chemistry, biology, physics, material science and engineering. It is an innovation conducted at nano-scale for building things generally materials and devices. So we are here with some information on upcoming developments on nanotechnology.

   

1. Nanotechnology in battling Covid-19: Currently, the world is being threatened with novel coronavirus known as Covid-19. Experts are onto the vaccine development to fight against this virus to save the world. Several researchers are now carried on to study the use of nanotechnology for battling Covid-19. As of now, most testing are done using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method which takes at least 24 hours to detect the presence of virus in the body. Researchers are now working to use nanotechnology to test the presence of virus in a very less time with low error rate. 

• Gold Nano-rods for diagnostic test: Scientists claim that the new gold nano-rods method will detect virus without any advanced lab requirements and test results will be produced in 5 to 20 mins. Firstly, a saliva or swab sample is obtained from a patient from which RNA is extracted. The RNA is then transferred to a tube containing highly specific molecule attached to gold nanoparticle (liquid form) to detect particular protein which is nothing but the virus genes sequence. If this liquid reagent turns from purple to blue color, the patient is Covid positive.
• Nanotechnology for vaccine development: Researchers also claim that this nanotechnology will play a major role in vaccine design. A nano particle called "Peptide" can help in disabling the virus molecules. Several Peptide based vaccines are in clinical testing. Experts say that these Peptide based molecules is virus like particles which mimics the molecular patterns associated with pathogens, making them highly visible to immune systems thereby becoming non-infectious towards mammals.

2. Self Cleaning Clothes: Advancements in research and development of nanotechnology has lead to the possibility of self cleaning clothes, also called as "Nano-clothes". Scientists say that the future technology will remove the use of washing machines from everyday life. With the help of light, these clothes can get rid of dirt, stains etc. by itself in seconds. Experts are working on copper and silver based nanostructures as these have the ability to absorb visible light. When exposed to sunlight, these nano-structures receive an energy boost which leads to creation of hot electrons and thus it removes all dirt and stains in less than 6 minutes.

Normal gloves Vs Nano-Gloves after dipped in water

3. Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) for body armor: Currently, body armors are heavy weighted and are made of woven or laminated polymeric fibers which are stacked in layers to resist the bullets. To provide greater protection against the bullets, grenades or higher velocity arms or ammunition, scientists are onto a nanomaterial called Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs). It possess very high hardness which is even greater than a diamond sample. Because of its high elastic modulus, it's light weight and also causes the bullets to deflect or bounce off. This CNTs fibre reinforcement may play an important role in more ballistic resistance. Well we are thinking about "Iron Man" here!!😂😂.

Representational image

4. Other Developments

• Nano-sensor probe or nano-needle can detect early DNA damage which can lead to cancer.
• Nano bubble water developed in Japan allows both fresh water and marine fish to live in same water.
• Thermo power, a new form of electricity using nanotubes.
•  Nano-bot particle made from glass helps to desorb contaminants from polluted water. It can also clean petroleum spills and chemicals that pollute the water.             

We have just listed very few products which are under development. There are wide range of products waiting which can actually change the working of whole world. If you know more about new nanotechnology products, do mention it in the comments section.

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