Nanotechnology not new to India, says Nobel laureate
The Hindu
January 1, 2008
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/01/stories/2008010155200600.htm

‘Carbon nanotechnology much older than carbon nano science’

Nanotechnology might be of raging interest to scientists world-over now. But Indians had used nano materials in the 16th century “unwittingly” and enabled Arab blacksmiths in making “Damascus steel sword” which was stronger and sharper.

Delivering a talk on ‘The contributions of elemental carbon to the development of nano science and technology’ at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) here on Monday and while interacting with the media, Nobel laureate Robert F. Curl said that carbon nanotechnology was much older than carbon nano science.

For the Damascus sword, Indians produced the raw material -- mined iron ore and exported it. He said that up to the middle of 18th century, the steel swords depended on this particular material and when the mines in India stopped, “they lost the technology.” The Damascus sword when subjected to scrutiny by an electron microscope in 2006 had shown to contain large amounts of nanotubes.

Similarly, glass materials produced in the Roman time had nano materials. He said the glass was covered with nano particles of gold and silver. He said the people were using such materials without understanding what they were doing for a long time.

Prof. Curl shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996 for discovery of fullerenes along with Richard Smalley and Harold Kroto.

Replying to a question about the use of nano materials in facial creams, he wondered whether they made any difference. Asked whether he approved of their use, he replied that he did not approve of using chemicals which were not thoroughly evaluated. “I feel with new materials, you have to be careful.” Asked about the discovery of fullerenes, he said “this was all a lucky accident.”

Award

Prof. Curl was later given the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award in Science’ instituted by B.M. Birla Science Centre. Nirmala Birla, president of the science centre, presented the award. The Nobel Laureate gave away B.M. Birla Science prizes to six young scientists in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics.

Dr. Krishna Dronamraju, President, Foundation for Genetic Research, also spoke.