Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!nanotech From: 6600sgs@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu (steve steinberg) Newsgroups: sci.nanotech Subject: Re: Article in Nature (August 12th, I think ?) Message-ID: Date: 20 Sep 90 01:31:20 GMT Sender: nanotech@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 36 Approved: nanotech@aramis.rutgers.edu Concerning the earlier post about MITI's nanotechnology project, this was in the LA Times 9/17/90 (from a Reuters story): "...Japanese scientists say it may be possible to build miniature machines that could travel inside the body and make surgical repairs. The Ministry of International trade and Industry, which often backs such projects, said last month that it would launch a major research drive to develop basic technologies to make the goal possible." "...'We will be laying the groundwork for commercialization in the early 21st Century,' said Naomasa Nakajima of Tokyo University who helped plan the project. MITI's goals for its 10-year, $171-million effort are more modest -- a prototype micromachine, one cubic centimeter in volume, that can sense and respond to its environment. It also foresees a smart catheter that could enter organs beyond the reach of today's probes." "...The micromachines theme was selected from dozens of others, in part because it is compatible with MITI's goal of making an international contribution by supporting basic research. But it also won out because early work in the field is promising. Moreover, Japan's aging population will place new demands on medicine." "MITI's Kobayashi said ... 'The United States is ahead, but it's only one step from the starting line. The goal is still way in the distance.'" -- ____________________________________________________________________ steve steinberg 6600sgs@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu (805) 685-6557