Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology applies an engineering mentality to biology. Whereas "traditional" genetic engineers splice a gene or two from one existing species into another, synthetic biologists radically alter existing life for new purposes. It is the design and construction of new biological entities such as enzymes, genetic circuits, and cells or the redesign of existing biological systems.

 They have also started to create new forms of life from scratch using standardized genetic components termed 'bio bricks'. The Synthetic biology is a new interdisciplinary area that involves the application of engineering principles to biology. Synthetic biology combines chemical synthesis of DNA with growing knowledge of genomics to enable researchers to quickly manufacture cataloged DNA sequences and assemble them into new genomes.

 The Synthetic biology includes the broad redefinition and expansion of biotechnology, with the ultimate goals of being able to design and build engineered biological systems that process information, manipulate chemicals, fabricate materials and structures, produce energy, provide food, and maintain and enhance human.

Helium-3 Power Generation

Helium-3 may be the fuel for a new generation of clean, nuclear fusion power plants. Unfortunately, helium-3 is also exceptionally rare on the Earth. There is, however, thought to be an abundant supply of helium-3 on the surface of the Moon. Mining lunar helium-3 may also become a large part of our "solution" to Peak Oil, broader fossil fuel depletion, and climate change.

The first uses deuterium (deuterium is hydrogen with a neutron) reacting with Helium-3, to produce helium and a proton. The second type of reactions uses two atoms of helium-3 to create helium and two protons. The protons created during the reaction are the crown jewel of Helium-3 fusion.

For example, much has been made of the fact that the Moon has indigenous supplies of helium-3, an isotope not found on Earth and which could be of considerable value as a fuel for second generation thermonuclear fusion reactors.Mars has no known helium-3 resources.

Micro Electromechanical Systems

Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems, or MEMS, is a technology that in its most general form can be defined as miniaturized mechanical and electro-mechanical elements (i.e., devices and structures) that are made using the techniques of micro fabrication. The critical physical dimensions of MEMS devices can vary from well below one micron on the lower end of the dimensional spectrum, all the way to several millimeters. The MEMS pressure sensors in respiratory monitoring are used in ventilators to monitor the patient's breathing. 

The one main criterion of MEMS is that there are at least some elements having some sort of mechanical functionality whether or not these elements can move. The term used to define MEMS varies in different parts of the world. In the United States they are predominantly called MEMS, while in some other parts of the world they are called “Microsystems Technology” or “micro machined devices”.

The MEMS development stems from the microelectronics industry, and combines and extends the conventional techniques developed for integrated circuit (IC) processing with MEMS-specific processes, to produce micro-miniature mechanical structures with dimensional features on the order of microns.MEMS pressure sensors are used for eye surgery to measure and control the vacuum level used to remove fluid from the eye, which is cleaned of debris and replaced back into the eye during surgery.

Nano Materials

Nano materials are chemical substances or materials that are manufactured and used at a very small scale. The nano materials are developed to exhibit novel characteristics compared to the same material without Nano scale features, such as increased strength, chemical reactivity or conductivity.

The Nano materials that are naturally occurring (e.g., volcanic ash, soot from forest fires) or are generated as incidental (unintentional) by-products of combustion processes (e.g., welding, diesel engines) are usually physically and chemically heterogeneous and often termed ‘ultra-fine particles’. Engineered nano materials, on the other hand, are intentionally produced and designed with physio-chemical properties for a specific purpose or function.

They are already being used in the manufacture of scratch proof eyeglasses, crack-resistant paints, anti-graffiti coatings for walls, transparent sunscreens, stain-repellent fabrics, self-cleaning windows and ceramic coatings for solar cells. Nanotechnology can be used to increase the safety of cars.