Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is a field of applied science and technology casing a broad range of topics. The main unifying theme is the control of matter on a scale smaller than 1 micrometre, normally in the order of 1 to 100 nanometers, as well as the fabrication of plans of this size. It is a highly multidisciplinary field, drawing from fields such as functional physics, materials science, colloidal science, appliance physics, supramolecular chemistry, and even mechanical and electrical engineering. Much speculation exists as to what new discipline and technology may result from these lines of research. Nanotechnology can be seen as an extension of accessible sciences into the nanoscale, or as a recasting of existing sciences using a newer, most recent term.
Two main approaches are used in nanotechnology. In the bottom-up approach, materials and devices are built from molecular mechanisms which assemble themselves chemically by principles of molecular appreciation. In the top-down approach, nano-objects are constructed from larger entities without atomic-level power. The impetus for nanotechnology comes from a renewed attention in colloidal science, coupled with a new invention of analytical tools such as the minute force microscope, and the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Combined with refined processes such as electron beam lithography and molecular beam epitaxy, these instruments allow the purposeful manipulation of nanostructures, and led to the observation of novel phenomena.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Tiger

The tiger is a mammal of the Felidae family, one of four large cats in the Panther a genus. Native to the mainland of southeastern Asia, the tiger is an apex predator and the largest feline species in the world, similar in size to the biggest fossil felids. The Bengal Tiger is the most general subspecies of tiger, constituting approximately 80% of the entire tiger population, and is found in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal. An endangered species, the popular of the world's tigers now live in captivity.
The tiger is introverted and territorial, preferring cover in deep forest, but also ranging in open areas. The cat hunts by stalk-and-ambush and may take a variety of mid- and large-sized prey, particularly ungulates. Males are much larger than females and have bigger home ranges. Amongst the nine extant tiger subspecies, there is major size variation.