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"Discovery Files" Features from the National Science Foundation
"Shrinky Dinghies"
Fully produced report in MP3 format:
48 kbps |
96 kbps
(90 seconds)
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READER SCRIPT
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TINY TRAWLERS... THE "DISCOVERY FILES": NEW ADVANCES IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. THINK OF SOMETHING SMALL THAT SWIMS, OR MOVES THROUGH THE WATER--LIKE A TODDLER WITH WATER-WINGS, A TADPOLE, A MINNOW, OR A TOY BOAT. NOW, THINK MUCH, MUCH SMALLER. PENN STATE RESEARCHERS ARE TEACHING NANO-PARTICLES TO SWIM. WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT NANO-ANYTHING, THERE'S THE USUAL COMPARISON TO A HUMAN HAIR: THE GOLD/PLATINUM NANO-RODS IN THIS CASE ARE LESS THAN ONE ONE-HUNDREDTH THE THICKNESS OF A HAIR--AND ONLY TWO ONE-MILLIONTHS OF A METER LONG. THE RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND A WAY TO GET A CATALYTIC REACTION TO PROPEL THE RODS IN A HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE SOLUTION. BUT, HOW DO YOU STEER THEM? IN LIEU OF A TINY STEERING WHEEL, THE TEAM IS LOOKING AT THREE METHODS: MAGNETISM, CHEMISTRY, AND LIGHT. NOW, TO LOAD CARGO ON THESE TINY VESSELS: WHETHER IT BE MEDICINES OR THERAPEUTIC AGENTS, THEY FOUND THAT IT COULD BE DONE USING ELECTROSTATIC AND CHEMICAL LINKERS. TO DATE, THE SCIENTISTS HAVE DEVELOPED THE FEASIBILITY OF PROPELLING, STEERING, AND LOADING CARGO ONTO THESE "SHRINKY DINGHIES"; CURRENT WORK IS FOCUSED ON THE UNLOADING. ONCE THE PROCESS IS PERFECTED, IT COULD BE USED FOR A VARIETY OF MEDICAL OR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS. THE "DISCOVERY FILES" COVERS PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOU! LEARN MORE AT "N-S-F"-DOT-GOV--OR ON THEIR PODCAST.
For additional "Discovery Files" features from the National Science Foundation, click here.
