Buckeyballs.

[Lavabug]

Once again, BBC documentaries deliver some solid (no pun intended) win. This is a cool documentary on fullerenes (carbon sphere-like molecules with immense application potential in nanoscience), how they were discovered by the hard-on bearer who won the Nobel prize for them, etc.:



[youtube]QVGryuO7zC4[/youtube]

[Meat Engine]

I thought I recognized your avatar.

[Hugo.]

Dawkins has a new series on channel4 starting on wednesday. The first episode is about religious schools and how they Indoctrinate and divide children. Tis a good one methinks.

[Lavabug]

Are you sure its new, what's it called? Will keep an eye out for it on the 'tube.

[Verbal]

I think I saw something like that already. Although maybe that was him going around investigating the lack of evolution-mentioning in schools.

[Lavabug]

Hey look, you can buy a gram of fullerenes for just 40$!

<!-- m -->http://sesres.com/FullerenesPrices.asp<!-- m -->?



Carbon nanotubes just 150$/gram!

[Hugo.]

I suspect carbon nanotubes could be quite dangerous if handled/inhaled!

[Lavabug]

[quote name="Zajebiste!"]I suspect carbon nanotubes could be quite dangerous if handled/inhaled![/quote]

Yeah I've heard they can be quite toxic/dangerous. They are supposed to be structurally stronger than steel. Imagine a sword made from such a material. Lightweight and lethal. :futuristicninjas:

[Hugo.]

I've heard that elements take on different properties at the nano level. Theyre probably just more reactive or whatever.

[Lavabug]

[quote name="Zajebiste!"]I've heard that elements take on different properties at the nano level. Theyre probably just more reactive or whatever.[/quote]

<!-- m -->http://www.i-sis.org.uk/nanotubestoxic.php<!-- m -->

They aren't chemically reactive, they just become airborne easily and can damage lungs. Like what many coal miners suffer, only it seems to be even worse with nanotubes.

[Hugo.]

[quote name="Lavabug"]
[quote name="Zajebiste!"]I've heard that elements take on different properties at the nano level. Theyre probably just more reactive or whatever.[/quote]

<!-- m -->http://www.i-sis.org.uk/nanotubestoxic.php<!-- m -->

They aren't chemically reactive, they just become airborne easily and can damage lungs. Like what many coal miners suffer, only it seems to be even worse with nanotubes. [/quote]



Yeah, i'd say it could do some sick damage. I wasnt referring exclusively to carbon. Silver which is pretty inert becomes fairly reactive at that size.

[Verbal]

asbestos is what you want though



paint: or paraquat. paraquat poisoning

[Abzu]

[quote name="Lavabug"]
[quote name="Zajebiste!"]I suspect carbon nanotubes could be quite dangerous if handled/inhaled![/quote]

Yeah I've heard they can be quite toxic/dangerous. They are supposed to be structurally stronger than steel. Imagine a sword made from such a material. Lightweight and lethal. :futuristicninjas:[/quote]

[Lavabug]

[quote name="Zajebiste!"]



Yeah, i'd say it could do some sick damage. I wasnt referring exclusively to carbon. Silver which is pretty inert becomes fairly reactive at that size.[/quote]



Oh, then what you're referring to is pulverized, at least thats how it reads on the packaging of most pulverized reactants. More surface area = more contact with other reactants, readily available for any reaction.



I've always wanted to try this:

[youtube]euQUgp5AY-Y[/youtube]

[Abzu]

I wish the schools I attended were heavier in the sciences.

[Meat Engine]

[quote name="Lavabug"]
[quote name="Zajebiste!"]I suspect carbon nanotubes could be quite dangerous if handled/inhaled![/quote]

Yeah I've heard they can be quite toxic/dangerous. They are supposed to be structurally stronger than steel. Imagine a sword made from such a material. Lightweight and lethal. :futuristicninjas:[/quote]



Who cares about swords? How about concrete that can bear a tensile load?! I am also looking forward to future applications for graphene. That stuff is the new hotness. If engineers can figure out a way to print it onto a silicon substrate, we could end up with some pretty awesome semi-conductors.

[Lavabug]

[quote name="The Fu Monster"]
[quote name="Lavabug"]
[quote name="Zajebiste!"]I suspect carbon nanotubes could be quite dangerous if handled/inhaled![/quote]

Yeah I've heard they can be quite toxic/dangerous. They are supposed to be structurally stronger than steel. Imagine a sword made from such a material. Lightweight and lethal. :futuristicninjas:[/quote]



Who cares about swords? [/quote]



Adults with a child-like fascination with super ninjas.



Indeed their application as semiconductors or building materials could bring about tons of neat advances.

[Hugo.]

Neat advances

[Abzu]

Your mom can handle a tensile load.



:hamfist:

[Hugo.]

Her young's modulus is up there with the best, yes.

[Abzu]

Has there been a cost comparison assessed yet on production with carbon nanotubes as opposed to standard alloys and plastics?