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The Mission of Microgravity and Physical Sciences Research at NASA (2001) / Chapter Skim
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3 New Opportunities at the Nanoscale and at the Interface Between Biology and the Physical and Engineering Sciences
Pages 9-16

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From page 9...
... Thus, the Physical Science Division has to find unique technical niches in support of NASA's core missions to achieve Tow-cost space exploration, establish permanent human presence in space' and benefit human life on Earth. For example, novel insights into nanoscale phenomena and the availability of an increasing number of nanoanalytical tools will have a major impact on NASA's ability to generate and store power in space, manufacture lightweight matenals on the ground and in space, design materials with integrated sensory Unctions, and develop new sensor technologies.
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From page 10...
... The study of the flow processes and microstructure formation in these devices follows as a natural extension of existing work in the PSD fluid physics program. BIOMOLECULAR PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY Research in biomolecular physics and chemistry can be viewed as the development of an interdisciplinary research program that will bring together physics, chemistry, biology, and materials ~0
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From page 11...
... Exploring the underlying mechanisms by which the structure of proteins is stabilized by confinement requires interdisciplinary teams to engineer nanostructurec3` environments and immobilize proteins, as well as analytical techniques and theory to assess the impact of local confinement on protein conformation and function. Some of the expertise to address this challenge aireacly exists within NASA's protein crystallization community concerned with protein structure and protein-protein interactions.
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From page 12...
... At the cellular and particularly the molecular levels, little is known about how mechanical forces affect cell signaling and gene expression. New insights from molecular biology, combined with the availability of novel nanoanalytical tools, promise to rapidly advance our knowledge base about the underlying causes by which the loss of gravity ultimately affects human health.
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From page 13...
... 2001. Societal Implications of Nanoscience and Nanotechnolow, National Science and Technology Council, Subcommittee on NanoscaTe Science, Engineering, and Technology.
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From page 15...
... Appendixes 15
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Key Terms

  • nanoanalytical tools
  • nanoscale objects
  • materials properties
  • biomolecular physics
  • nanoscale materials

  • technology council
  • science division
  • ethical implications
  • permanent human
  • protein structure

  • human presence
  • nanoscale science
  • integrated sensory
  • cell signaling
  • mechanical forces

  • novel properties
  • novel nanoanalytical
  • nanoscale phenomena
  • bone loss
  • structural materials

  • fluid physics
  • sensory functions
  • novel insights
  • physical science
  • cellular biophysics

  • maximum impact
  • design principles
  • integrating nanoscale
  • native protein
  • protein conformation


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