Developments to Watch
Edited by Catherine Arnst
Enough Juice to Run Your Laptop for Days
Today's ultralight laptop computers run at blazing speeds. But they're energy hogs that often deliver a meager two hours of continuous use. That should change in the next couple of years, when Japan's NEC Corp. (NIPNY
) hopes to offer a powerful, compact fuel cell as an energy source. These devices convert the chemical energy of fuels such as hydrogen into electricity by means of an electrochemical reaction. But NEC has added a twist: It plans to fashion a key part of the fuel cell from carbon nanotubes.
Nanotubes are long, cylindrical wonder molecules made up of a lattice of carbon atoms. First created 10 years ago by Sumio Iijima, an NEC scientist, they're 100,000 times thinner than a human hair yet stronger than steel. And they conduct electricity better than copper.
In their latest breakthrough, Iijima and his team discovered horn-shaped nanotubes that can serve as highly efficient electrodes in fuel cells. Thanks to their shape, the "nanohorns" cluster together to provide an immense surface area for electrochemical reactions, boosting the efficiency of the fuel cell. Although still in an early stage of development, the new device promises to provide 10 times the power capacity of a high-density lithium-ion battery of comparable size. That means enough juice to run a laptop nonstop for several workdays. "We have two to three years work ahead of us," says Iijima. "But I think we'll be making a contribution."
By Irene M. Kunii
Windows That Wash Themselves
The picture-perfect homemaker of the 1950s may have spent hours polishing her panes, but these days, who has time? Now, the latest in window-glass technology offers hope for the house-proud trapped behind filthy windows. Recently, Britain's Pilkington PLC (PKGTF
) and rival PPG Industries Inc. (PPG
) of Pittsburgh have introduced window glass that practically cleans itself.
Both Pilkington's offering, dubbed Activ, and PPG's SunClean consist of glass that is treated with a thin layer of chemical compounds. The treatment keeps grime at bay in two ways. First, in the presence of sunlight, the chemically active surface breaks dirt down and prevents it from building back up. Second, the transparent chemical layer loves water, so the surface holds and sheds water in sheets rather than drops.
Fewer drops means fewer spots, says PPG's Victor L. Skukalek, project manager for SunClean. And when the high-tech glass does require cleaning, dirt comes off more easily. "You can just hose it down," he says. That may justify the anticipated 20% premium for windows containing SunClean panes.
By Adam Aston
These Therapies Seek Out and Destroy Cancer
Cancer treatment is being revolutionized by targeted therapies that home in on diseased cells without harming healthy tissues. Some such drugs have already been approved by the Food & Drug Administration--notably Novartis' Gleevec, a highly effective treatment for a rare form of leukemia.
On Sept. 11, an FDA panel will review the application for one of the first of a subclass of these tumor-specific drugs: antibodies that are combined with radioactive isotopes. These radioimmunotherapies use the antibody to seek out receptors found only on specific cancer cells, and then deliver their deadly cargo to the tumor. Because injecting radiation into the blood seems inherently risky to many doctors, the FDA is moving cautiously. It delayed the approval process for both leading candidates, demanding more data.
The September meeting will consider Zevalin, made by IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corp. (IDPH
) The drug is an enhanced version of IDEC's Rituxan, an antibody used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Zevalin combines an antibody similar to the one in Rituxan with yttrium-90. In Phase III clinical trials, Zevalin produced an 80% overall response rate in the sickest non-Hodgkin's patients. Analysts say the FDA panel will most likely recommend approval of Zevalin. If so, the drug would reach the market early next year.
Bexaar, a drug made by Corixa Corp., in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK
), also treats non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The company completed filing the additional data requested by the FDA in early August, but a review hasn't yet been scheduled.
Zapping the Zebra Mussel with Radio Waves
Environmental authorities estimate that tens of millions of dollars have been spent every year since the mid-1980S to combat the zebra mussel. The marble-size mollusk was inadvertently introduced to the Great Lakes from the ballast water of oceangoing freighters. And in recent years, they've spread through shipping canals into the Mississippi. But now, scientists may have a weapon to stop the invasion.
Researchers at Purdue University's Calumet campus have discovered that zebra mussels can be killed by zapping them with extremely low-frequency electromagnetic waves. Moreover, the researchers found that the radio waves do not seem to harm fish or native shellfish. That represents a big step up from existing approaches, in which chemicals such as chlorine and bromine are used to poison the fast-reproducing mussels and keep water-intake pipes clear.
The researchers conducted their experiments by beaming radio waves at aquariums stocked with different species of aquatic life. After 40 days, the zebra mussels had all died. Matthew F. Ryan, a chemistry professor leading a team of undergraduates in the work, speculates that the low-frequency waves work by causing an ion imbalance in the mussels. Field tests are planned this fall in Lake Michigan to see how well Purdue's ray gun works outside its labs.
By Michael Arndt
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Copyright 2001, Bloomberg L.P.
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