Czech Republic has potential to become world leader in nanotechnology, says deputy PM

The Czech Republic has the potential to become a world leader in nanotechnology, Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Blobrdek said on Tuesday, referring to the countrys long-term commitment in research and development in the field. A patent dating back to 2004 proved a game changer and a number of firms have since added to the initial success.

Ji Fusek, photo: archive of Ji Fusek I spoke to nanotechnology sector specialist Ji Fusek of CzechInvest, asking him if he agreed the Czech Republic could be a bigger player in the field.

I think so and it was great to hear the deputy prime minister speaking in those terms, showing that support for Czech nanotechnology internationally as a priority. Nanotechnology is still a young field but now I would say that we are reaching a more mature stage of development, which is also easier for companies or investors to approach.

2004 is cited as a milestone year why that year?

It is largely thanks to the patent registered on advanced electro-spinning, which was invented at the Technical University in Liberec by Professor Jirsk. The same year Elmarco began the commercialization of the patent and was successful, now with branches in the US and Japan. Because of this patent, the Czech Republic gained international recognition and new companies were able to develop final applications using Nano fibres.

Other companies have been involved in creating veterinary applications and now are moving in the field of human medicine or in the creation of electron microscopes. The company Tescan, which has some 1,600 installations all over the world and cover one-third of the market in Korea one of the most advanced countries in the world in this field.

Photo: Filip Jandourek A new nanotechnology industry association was formed in the Czech Republic last year: how important a step was it?

I think it was definitely important and it has worked quite well. It would also be great to become a part of European and international structures to promote Czech nanotechnology there. We are grateful that a conference held on the subject on Tuesday was attended by the ECs Christos Tokamanis and he promised to help the association become a part of European projects which would clearly be a big help.

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Czech Republic has potential to become world leader in nanotechnology, says deputy PM

Ancon Medical Researchers Make Nanotechnology Breakthrough for Disease Screening Technology

BLOOMINGTON, MN (PRWEB) March 25, 2015

Researchers at Ancon Medical Inc. have made a breakthrough in nanoparticle technology that will enable broader and less invasive screening for cancer, tuberculosis and many other diseases with a simple breath screen. The Minnesota-based medical device maker will move ahead on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process and is targeting a fall 2016 launch of the innovative Nanoparticle Biomarker Tagging device.

Ancon Medicals nanoparticle breakthrough comes as scientists continue to find ways to use nanotechnology in cancer treatment, as this week researchers at UCLA's California NanoSystems Institute announced the development of a pancreatic cancer treatment that can reduce the need for chemotherapy, according to Phys.org on March 24.

Though known for their microscopic size, NBT works by using nanoparticles to make certain molecules appear bigger and easier to detect. NBT technology can detect the presence of a wide array of diseases just by testing an individuals breath for biomarker molecules that serve as a chemical fingerprint for the disease.

Detecting individual molecules is extremely challenging, but doing so opens a whole world of medical screening possibilities said Ancon Medical President Wesley Baker. For more than a decade, researchers at Ancon Medical have been working with nanotechnology in order to make NBT technology the most sensitive breath screening disease detection technology available.

Nanotechnology made the goal of single molecule discovery possible for researchers at Ancon Medical, who were working in aerosol science to find a method of breath screening for disease detection, Baker said.

At first, Ancon Medical researchers were focused on technology that allowed nanoparticles to be enlarged through means of nucleation and condensation so they could be detected with visual equipment such as photomultipliers. In the 1990s, Ancon Medical researchers were successful in their ability to detect a single molecule of sulfuric acid using this technology. However, this nucleation-condensation detection technology based on aerosol science was effective for only certain chemicals, giving the technology limited overall practical application.

We needed to find a way to take what we had discovered in aerosol technology and apply it more broadly. Then, nanotechnology came along and gave us the breakthrough we needed, Baker said.

In 2002, Ancon Medical researchers expanded on their discoveries by working on ways to enlarge a molecule to make it easily detectable. Advances in nanotechnology made it possible to tag molecules with nanoparticles that would increase the molecules size to that of the tagging nanoparticle. Thus, it became possible for Ancon Medical researchers to detect any molecule, regardless of its chemical nature.

This breakthrough eliminated the chemical limitations of existing molecular detection methods and paved the way for the creation of Ancon Medicals NBT technology, which utilizes both aerosol science and nanotechnology to be able to detect individual molecules in an individuals exhaled breath.

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Ancon Medical Researchers Make Nanotechnology Breakthrough for Disease Screening Technology

The Global Nanotechnology-based Medical Devices Market is Expected to Reach Around $5 billion by 2019

(PRWEB) March 25, 2015

The Nanotechnology in Medical Devices Market - By Product (Biochip, Implant Materials, Medical Textiles, Wound Dressing, Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices, Hearing Aid, Retina Implant), Application (Therapeutic, Diagnostic, Research) Global Forecast to 2019

Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the nanotechnology-based medical devices market. http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/nanotechnology-medical-device-market-65048077.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on reports.

This report studies the nanotechnology-based medical devices market over the forecast period of 2014 to 2019. The nanotechnology-based medical devices market witnessed healthy growth during the last decade primarily attributed to the rising aging population and increasing government support, globally. However, high costs and time-consuming product approval processes of the nanotechnology-based medical devices are inhibiting the growth of this market to a certain extent.

Inquiry before Buying: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=65048077

In this report, the nanotechnology-based medical devices market is divided on the basis of products, applications, and regions. On the basis of products, the market is categorized into biochips, implantable materials, medical textile and wound dressing, active implantable devices, and others. The implantable materials segment is bifurcated into dental filling materials and bone restorative materials; while the active implantable devices segment is bifurcated into cardiac rhythm management devices, hearing aid devices, and retinal implants. On the basis of applications, the nanotechnology-based medical devices market is categorized into three major segments, namely, therapeutic applications, diagnostics applications, and research applications.

In 2014, the active implantable devices segment accounted for the largest share of the market. Rising incidence of lifestyle and age-related disorders (such as cardiovascular and hearing disorders) has contributed significantly to the growth of the nanotechnology-based active implantable devices market. In addition, availability of insurance coverage and reimbursement for medical procedures, presence of well-structured distribution channels, and growing out-of-pocket healthcare spending are further boosting the growth of the active implantable devices market.

On the basis of regions, North America accounted for the largest share of this market in 2014, followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW. However, the Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing market for nanotechnology-based medical devices primarily due to the rising aging population, increasing international research collaborations, and increasing nanotechnology R&D expenditure. In addition, large-scale improvements in the healthcare infrastructure of countries such as China, Taiwan, and India are further driving the market in these regions.

Cardiac Monitoring & Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) Market [ECG, Implantable Loop Recorder, Holter, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD), Automated External Defibrillator (AED), Pacemaker, CRT-D, CRT- P] - Global Forecasts to 2017 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cardiac-monitoring-advanced-technologies-and-global-market-55.html

Browse Related Reports: Biomaterials Market [By Products (Polymers, Metals, Ceramics, Natural Biomaterials) & Applications (Cardiovascular, Orthopedic, Dental, Plastic Surgery, Wound Healing, Tissue Engineering, Ophthalmology, Neurology Disorders)] Global Forecasts to 2017 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/biomaterials-393.html

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The Global Nanotechnology-based Medical Devices Market is Expected to Reach Around $5 billion by 2019

Nanotechnology platform shows promise for treating pancreatic cancer

18 hours ago by Shaun Mason Axial CT image with i.v. contrast. Macrocystic adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head. Credit: public domain

Scientists at UCLA's California NanoSystems Institute and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have combined their nanotechnology expertise to create a new treatment that may solve some of the problems of using chemotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer.

The study, published online in the journal ACS Nano, describes successful experiments to combine two drugs within a specially designed mesoporous silica nanoparticle that looks like a glass bubble. The drugs work together to shrink human pancreas tumors in mice as successfully as the current standard treatment, but at one twelfth the dosage. This lower dosage could reduce both the cost of treatment and the side effects that people suffer from the current method.

The study was led by Dr. Huan Meng, assistant adjunct professor of medicine, and Dr. Andre Nel, distinguished professor of medicine, both at the Jonsson Cancer Center.

Pancreatic cancer, a devastating disease with a five-year survival rate of 5 percent, is difficult to detect early and symptoms do not usually appear until the disease is advanced. As a result, many people are not diagnosed until their tumors are beyond the effective limits of surgery, leaving chemotherapy as the only viable treatment option. The chemotherapy drug most often used for pancreas cancer is gemcitabine, but its impact is often limited.

Recent research has found that combining gemcitabine with another drug called paclitaxel can improve the overall treatment effect. In the current method, Abraxanea nano complex containing paclitaxeland gemcitabine are given separately, which works to a degree, but because the drugs may stay in the body for different lengths of time, the combined beneficial effect is not fully synchronized.

"The beauty of the silica nanoparticle technology is that gemcitabine and paclitaxel are placed together in one special lipid-coated nanoparticle at the exact ratio that makes them synergistic with one another when co-delivered at the cancer site, giving us the best possible outcome by using a single drug carrier," Meng said. "This enables us to reduce the dose and maintain the combinatorial effect."

After the scientists constructed the silica nanoparticles, they suspended them in blood serum and injected them into mice that had human pancreas tumors growing under their skin. Other mice with tumors were given injections of saline solution (a placebo with no effect), gemcitabine (the treatment standard), and gemcitabine and Abraxane (an FDA-approved combination shown to improve pancreas cancer survival in humans).

In the mice that received the two drugs inside the nanoparticle, pancreas tumors shrank dramatically compared with those in the other mice.

Similar comparisons were made with mouse models, in which the human tumors were surgically implanted into the mice's abdomens in order to more closely emulate the natural point of origin of pancreatic tumors and provide a better parallel to the tumors in humans. In these experiments, the tumors in the mice receiving silica nanoparticles shrank more than the comparative controls. Also, metastasis, or tumor spread, to nearby organs was eradicated in these mice.

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Nanotechnology platform shows promise for treating pancreatic cancer

Nanotechnology and Its Relevance in India video lessons for ias upsc preparation – Video


Nanotechnology and Its Relevance in India video lessons for ias upsc preparation
Nanotechnology and Its Relevance in India - General studies paper 2 for IAS Mains examination.video lessons for ias upsc preparation. The video is useful for the students appearing for competitive...

By: Learners #39; Planet

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Nanotechnology and Its Relevance in India video lessons for ias upsc preparation - Video

IIN Frontiers in Nanotechnology Seminar Series – Dr. Keith Brown – Video


IIN Frontiers in Nanotechnology Seminar Series - Dr. Keith Brown
Keith A. Brown International Institute for Nanotechnology Northwestern University "Making Room at the Bottom With Scanning Probes" Abstract Through technologies like the integrated circuit,...

By: International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern University

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IIN Frontiers in Nanotechnology Seminar Series - Dr. Keith Brown - Video

Global Nanotechnology in Energy Applications Market Trends Forecast in 2014 2018 and Applications – Video


Global Nanotechnology in Energy Applications Market Trends Forecast in 2014 2018 and Applications
Global Nanotechnology in Energy Applications Market Size, Share, Growth, Company Profiles, Demand, Insights, Analysis, Research, Report, Opportunities, Segmentation, Landscape, scenario.

By: Mark Holman

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Global Nanotechnology in Energy Applications Market Trends Forecast in 2014 2018 and Applications - Video

Nanotech risks must be managed

Ireland has a global reputation for leadership in nanotechnology, with three of its largest industries directly impacted by nano-science: Medical devices, pharmaceutical drugs, and information and communications technology.

Worldwide, nanotechnology is a major driver of economic growth and, while its overall contribution to world GDP is disputed, conservative estimates suggest it is a multibillion-dollar sector in high growth. That said, concerns over the risk posed by this emerging technology threaten to derail the bandwagon.

It is difficult to underestimate the potential of insurance in terms of improving the resilience of the commercial entities that make up the commercial nanotech sector and, by extension, its centrality to the very sustainability of that industry. The importance of SMEs at strategic junctures of the value chain of the sector further emphasises the importance of risk transfer.

SMEs in this sector are vulnerable to changes in risk perception on the part of key stakeholders, particularly the insurance sector. Without the ability to transfer risk or indeed access to insurance markets, the viability of many SMEs operating in this sector is questionable.

The nexus of a regulation, law, and insurance in many jurisdictions, particularly in the areas of workers compensation and environmental liability, means that without insurance operations, nanotech activity may be curtailed.

The ability to communicate risk effectively also has a major impact on regulators and investors, both key communities that sustain nanotechnology in Europe. In the medium term, maintaining, indeed creating, a vibrant sector will require an effective and robust risk-assessment tool.

To this end, researchers at the University of Limerick have assembled a consortium that includes some of the major players in risk governance and nanotech data from across Europe. The combination of major insurance syndicates, together with blue chip IT involvement in the area of artificial intelligence, represents an unprecedented joint effort to fulfil the long-standing ambition to create a state-of-the-art risk governance tool for the nanotech sector.

The contested nature of the nanotech toxicology/exposure field makes this an ideal case for a big data tool. The ability to analyse metadata represents a major step forward in terms of the risk governance of nanotech and of emerging technology more generally

The multidisciplinary team at UL effectively acts as a bridging point between the scientific community and those stakeholders that require more effective risk assessment. A deeper understanding and more granular view of the economic ecosystem that sustains the nanotech sector is an essential prerequisite for effective risk governance.

Our strategic goal is to develop a tool which will place the industry on a more sustainable footing. This will allow interested parties and key stakeholders to efficiently categorise risks pertaining to the sector. At the same time this project will address the key issue of nascent catastrophic risk.

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Nanotech risks must be managed

NNI publishes workshop report assessing the status of EHS risk science

Report examines progress 3 years after the release of the 2011 NNI EHS Research Strategy

The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) today published the report from the workshop, "Stakeholder Perspectives on Perception, Assessment, and Management of the Potential Risks of Nanotechnology" (R3 Workshop), which was held September 10-11, 2013, in Washington, D.C. The goal of the workshop was to assess the status of nanotechnology environmental, health, and safety (EHS) risk science three years after the development of the 2011 NNI EHS Research Strategy and to identify the tools and best practices used by risk assessors to address the implications of nanotechnology. A wide range of stakeholders including Federal and State regulators, small and large businesses, insurance companies, academic researchers, occupational safety specialists, and public and environmental advocacy groups shared their perspectives on the risk management process; discussed strategies and approaches for improving risk science methods; and examined ways that NNI agencies can assist stakeholders in the responsible development of nanotechnology.

Stakeholders participating in the workshop presented their perspectives and methods used to assess and manage the potential risks of nanotechnology. Research presented at the workshop shows that technical risk data alone will not enable decisions; risk evaluations by different stakeholders with varying biases, values, and stances can affect the perceptions and behaviors (e.g., investment or personal safety decisions) of consumers, regulators, developers, manufacturers, and insurers.

Following a robust dialogue among participants, including a variety of stakeholder perspectives, participants identified needs in four areas. (The following list is not prioritized):

###

To view the full report, please visit http://www.nano.gov/R3report.

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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Nanotechnology in Medical Devices Market Worth $8.5 Billion by 2019

DALLAS, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new market research report "Nanotechnology in Medical Devices Market by Product (Biochip, Implant Materials, Medical Textiles, Wound Dressing, Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices, Hearing Aid), Application (Therapeutic, Diagnostic, Research) - Global Forecast to 2019", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Nanotechnology in Medical Devices Market is was valued at around $5 Billion in 2014 and expected to reach around $8.5 Billion by 2019 with a CAGR of around 11-12% during the forecast period 2014 - 2019.

Browse116market data Tables and28Figures spread through200Pages and in-depth TOC on "Nanotechnology in Medical Devices Market "

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/nanotechnology-medical-device-market-65048077.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.

This report studies the Nanotechnology-Based Medical Devices Market over the forecast period of 2014 to 2019. The nanotechnology-based medical devices market witnessed healthy growth during the last decade primarily attributed to the rising aging population and increasing government support, globally. However, high costs and time-consuming product approval processes of the nanotechnology-based medical devices are inhibiting the growth of this market to a certain extent.

Inquiry before Buying:http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=65048077

In this report, the Nanotechnology-Based Medical Devices Market is divided on the basis of products, applications, and regions. On the basis of products, the market is categorized into biochips, implantable materials, medical textile and wound dressing, active implantable devices, and others. The implantable materials segment is bifurcated into dental filling materials and bone restorative materials; while the active implantable devices segment is bifurcated into cardiac rhythm management devices, hearing aid devices, and retinal implants. On the basis of applications, the nanotechnology-based medical devices market is categorized into three major segments, namely, therapeutic applications, diagnostics applications, and research applications.

In 2014, the active implantable devices segment accounted for the largest share of the market. Rising incidence of lifestyle and age-related disorders (such as cardiovascular and hearing disorders) has contributed significantly to the growth of the nanotechnology-based active implantable devices market. In addition, availability of insurance coverage and reimbursement for medical procedures, presence of well-structured distribution channels, and growing out-of-pocket healthcare spending are further boosting the growth of the active implantable devices market.

On the basis of regions, North America accounted for the largest share of this market in 2014, followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW. However, the Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing market for nanotechnology-based medical devices primarily due to the rising aging population, increasing international research collaborations, and increasing nanotechnology R&D expenditure. In addition, large-scale improvements in the healthcare infrastructure of countries such as China, Taiwan, and India are further driving the market in these regions.

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Nanotechnology in Medical Devices Market Worth $8.5 Billion by 2019

Black Holes, Nanotechnology and Cyberattacks Come to the Fore

A preview by our editor in chief of the April issue of Scientific American

Mariette DiChristina

We're used to thinking of black holes as places where gravity is so strong not even light can escapewhere an unnoticed crossing by a hapless astronaut over an unseen and un-felt event horizon nonetheless means a point of no return. According to Einstein's general theory of relativity, no signposts would mark the spot where the chance of escape dropped to zero, writes physicist Joseph Polchinski.

But in this issue's cover story, Burning Rings of Fire, Polchinski paints a new picture, courtesy of his and others' work in a discipline that Albert Einstein found vexing: quantum mechanics. Replacing the unknowable border to an eternity of darkness is a stormy firewall of instantly lethal high-energy particles. If quantum mechanics is to be trusted, firewalls are the consequence, Polchinski notes. The controversial finding arose from scientists' attempts to resolve apparent contradictions of physics that occur in extreme environments, a challenge highlighted by Stephen Hawking, among others.

Nanotechnology can be equally invisible to the eye but promises far more benignin fact, salutaryencounters. In our special report on the Future of Medicine, we examine what benefits nanomedicine is bringing us already and how those will take shape in the future. We can look forward to improvements in cancer-fighting therapies, diagnostics, wound healing, delivery of drugs with nanomotors, and more.

A different class of unseen actors is at work in the worrying trend of cyberattacks. Software vulnerabilities have led to hacked networks, servers, personal computers and online accountswith theft of information from millions. Your own PC or corporate network can become enslaved to further the ends of cybercriminals.

How to Survive Cyberwar, by Keren Elazari, takes an unsettling look at the growing problem. Taking a military point of view, Elazari argues, will ultimately not be the most successful approachindeed, it might just make things worse. Instead she suggests thinking of it as a public health issue. Government agencies are key players, but they cannot stop the spread of [cyber]diseases on their own. Success will mean that all of us play important roles. Read on to see how we can, as cybercitizens, do the equivalent of washing our hands and getting our vaccines.

This article was originally published with the title "Dark and Stormy."

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Black Holes, Nanotechnology and Cyberattacks Come to the Fore

Research assistant / associate in nanotechnology (fixed term)

Location: Cambridge Salary: 24,775 to 37,394 per annum Hours: Full Time Contract Type: Contract / Temporary

Applications are invited for a Research Assistant/Associate (Postdoctoral Researcher) in the Department of Engineering, to work in the field of nanotechnology. The post holder will be working in the nanomanufacturing group in Cambridge, UK - http://www.nanomanufacturing.eng.cam.ac.uk/

In this project, we aim at the development of new scalable techniques to create highly organized assemblies of carbon nanotubes and/or graphene. This process builds on techniques such as microfluidics and requires understanding of colloidal physics, self-assembly, physical chemistry.

The researcher will take a prominent role in planning experiments and leading the research activities. Also, as this project is a subcomponent of a larger project, the researcher will need to interact closely with team members towards the application of these materials in energy storage and filtration.

We will consider candidates with various research backgrounds including material science, chemistry, engineering, and physics. We are particularly interested in candidates with a track record in one or more of the following: colloidal physics, surfactant systems, self-assembly, microfluidics, chemical modification or synthesis of nanomaterials, as well as nanomaterial characterization techniques. Applicants are required to have a PhD or be close to obtaining a PhD.

Salary Ranges:

Research Assistant: 24,775 - 28,695; Research Associate: 28,695 - 37,394

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 24 months in the first instance.

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment.

When submitting your application, please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV), a covering letter, and a publication list (please highlight what you think are your three best publications) in the Upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. Please submit your application by midnight on the closing date.

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Research assistant / associate in nanotechnology (fixed term)

Black Holes, Nanotechnology and Cyber Attacks Come to the Fore

A preview by our editor in chief of the April issue of Scientific American

Mariette DiChristina

We're used to thinking of black holes as places where gravity is so strong not even light can escapewhere an unnoticed crossing by a hapless astronaut over an unseen and un-felt event horizon nonetheless means a point of no return. According to Einstein's general theory of relativity, no signposts would mark the spot where the chance of escape dropped to zero, writes physicist Joseph Polchinski.

But in this issue's cover story, Burning Rings of Fire, Polchinski paints a new picture, courtesy of his and others' work in a discipline that Albert Einstein found vexing: quantum mechanics. Replacing the unknowable border to an eternity of darkness is a stormy firewall of instantly lethal high-energy particles. If quantum mechanics is to be trusted, firewalls are the consequence, Polchinski notes. The controversial finding arose from scientists' attempts to resolve apparent contradictions of physics that occur in extreme environments, a challenge highlighted by Stephen Hawking, among others.

Nanotechnology can be equally invisible to the eye but promises far more benignin fact, salutaryencounters. In our special report on the Future of Medicine, we examine what benefits nanomedicine is bringing us already and how those will take shape in the future. We can look forward to improvements in cancer-fighting therapies, diagnostics, wound healing, delivery of drugs with nanomotors, and more.

A different class of unseen actors is at work in the worrying trend of cyberattacks. Software vulnerabilities have led to hacked networks, servers, personal computers and online accountswith theft of information from millions. Your own PC or corporate network can become enslaved to further the ends of cybercriminals.

How to Survive Cyberwar, by Keren Elazari, takes an unsettling look at the growing problem. Taking a military point of view, Elazari argues, will ultimately not be the most successful approachindeed, it might just make things worse. Instead she suggests thinking of it as a public health issue. Government agencies are key players, but they cannot stop the spread of [cyber]diseases on their own. Success will mean that all of us play important roles. Read on to see how we can, as cybercitizens, do the equivalent of washing our hands and getting our vaccines.

This article was originally published with the title "Dark and Stormy."

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Digital Issue $5.99

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Black Holes, Nanotechnology and Cyber Attacks Come to the Fore