006
A Big Deal
hat’s one small step for man; one giant leap
for mankind.”
We’ve just finished marking the 40th
anniversary of the moment astronaut Neil Armstrong
uttered his historic phrase as he stepped on the lunar
surface. Even though he misspoke and meant to say “for
a man,” the world still knows what he meant: Something
seemingly so small actually can be a very big deal.
t
PuBLIsHER
Steven G. Zylstra
EDITOR
Don Rodriguez
assOCIa TE EDI TOR
Tina May
aRT DIRECTOR
Jim Nissen, Switch Studio
DEsIgNERs
Chaidi Lobato
Erin Loukili
Kris Olmon
CONTRIBu TINg WRI TERs
Frank X. Curci
Christopher Di Virgilio
Wayne Frasch
Richard Harth
J. Brent Hiskey
Joe Kullman
Jim McPherson
Kate Nolan
Diane Rechel
Ken Reinstein
Michael Tope
TRaDEmaRK // gENERaL COuNsEL
Quinn Williams
DIs TRIBu TION PaRTNERs
Tucson Chamber of Commerce
We made that discovery while
reporting the stories for this
edition of TechConnect, The
Nanotechnology Issue. For those
of you who are new to the term,
nanotechnology is defined as the
study and use of structures up
to 100 nanometers in size. One
reference says it would take 800
particles measuring 100 nanometers
placed side by side to match the
width of a human hair.
And, oh, the things you can do
with things that small!
Imagine breathing into a device
with a sensor that at a molecular
level can determine whether you
suffer from kidney disease or
asthma? Or what about a substance
that can be used to coat a jet
engine and make it impenetrable
to shrapnel? Just try to imagine the
number of lives that can be saved
when these developments are put to
use, which is expected to be soon.
How about creating a laser that
allows satellites to communicate
with one another while in orbit?
Or “dots” that will replace
costlier semiconductors to create
photovoltaic cells? We have the
details inside.
There are researchers in
Arizona’s university and private
labs who are staking their careers
on the potential offered by these
and other developments. When
we were developing this edition
many told me to make sure our
writers talked with one person in
particular. As head of the Arizona
Nanotechnology Cluster, a group
created to encourage developments
in this unique field, Matt Kim is
nothing short of excited when it
comes to science. Learn more in
his profile.
As occurs sometimes with new
developments in science, there are
discussions over ethical, legal and
other issues in nanotechnology.
We share with you the views that
are arising in Arizona and beyond.
I think anyone would agree it’s
better to discuss the possibilities vs.
dismiss the unknown.
Speaking of firsts, this edition is
a first for us. This is the debut of
a digital edition of TechConnect
magazine. Most of you are seeing
this on your computer screen but
still can flip through the pages as
you normally would. Plus the eye-catching design created by Switch
Studio of Tempe remains.
The biggest difference is the
magazine can now go beyond our
normal distribution channels. Feel
free to share the link with your
friends and colleagues. Now, that’s
a big deal!
E-maIL
editor@techconnectmag.com
subscriptions@techconnectmag.com
For queries or customer service,
call 602-343-8324
TechConnect is published by the
Arizona Technology Council,
One Renaissance Square, 2 N. Central
Ave., Suite 750, Phoenix, AZ 85004.
Entire contents copyright 2009,
Arizona Technology Council.
Reproduction in whole or in part
without permission is prohibited.
Products named in these pages are
trade names or trademarks of their
respective companies. TechConnect
is a trademark of the Arizona
Technology Council. All rights
reserved. Publication of TechConnect
is supported by private-sector
businesses, and is not financed by
state-appropriated funds.
DON RODRIGUEZ
Editor,
TechConnect Magazine
