Nanoscientists Nano Hall of Fame

Two nanotechnologists have been dubbed members of the "Brilliant 10" by Popular Science magazine, US. Angela Belcher of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Charles Lieber of Harvard University were both honoured in the list.

"The men and women in our first annual list are not famous yet, but they are ground-breaking, risk-taking, maniacally committed researchers," said Scott Mowbray, editor-in-chief of Popular Science. "Most are doing work that is ushering in technological advances that will change our lives."

Belcher, previously at the University of Texas at Austin, has engineered viruses that can grow semiconductor materials. Her research group uses molecular recognition and self-assembly to design "biological hybrid multidimensional materials".

Lieber's research activities, meanwhile, include studying the growth, electrical properties and mechanical properties of nanowires and nanotubes, chemical force microscopy, and electron scattering and spin interactions in layered materials.

He also co-founded US start-up Nanosys, which is developing systems based on nanowires, nanotubes and quantum dots for applications in areas such as chemical sensing, nanoelectronics and optoelectronics.