Researchers at the Technische Universität München have demonstrated a method ofspraying carbon nanotubes onto flexible plastic surfaces to produce sensors. The researchers believe that this method could produce low cost sensors on surfaces such as the plastic film wrapping food, so that the sensor could detect spoiled food.
Researchers are using silicate nanoparticles to provide a barrier to gasses (for example oxygen), or moisture in a plastic film used for packaging. This could reduce the possibly of food spoiling or drying out.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles can be incorporated into plastic packaging to block UV rays and provide anti bacterial protection, while improving the strength and stability of the plastic film.
Nanosensors are being developed that can detect bacteria and other contaminates, such as salmonella, at a packaging plant. This will allow for frequent testing at a much lower cost than sending samples to a lab for analysis. This point-of-packaging testing, if conducted properly, has the potential to dramatically reduce the chance of contaminated food reaching grocery store shelves.
Research is also being conducted to develop nanocapsules containing nutrients that would be released when nanosensors detect a vitamin deficiency in your body. Basically this research could result in a super vitamin storage system in your body that delivers the nutrients you need, when you need them.
"Interactive" foods are being developed that would allow you to choose the desired flavor and color. Nanocapsules that contain flavor or color enhancers are embedded in the food; inert until a hungry consumer triggers them. The method hasn't been published, so it will be interesting to see how this particular trick is accomplished.
Researchers are also working on pesticides encapsulated in nanoparticles; that only release pesticide within an insect's stomach, minimizing the contamination of plants themselves.
Another development being persued is a network of nanosensors and dispensers used throughout a farm field. The sensors recognize when a plant needs nutrients or water, before there is any sign that the plant is deficient. The dispensers then release fertilizer, nutrients, or water as needed, optimizing the growth of each plant in the field one by one.
Grammar Reference Section
Unit 1. PRESENT TENSES
Present Simple Tense describes a regular or characteristic happening
How often do you carry out experiments?
Present Continuous Tense describes
a) an activity at or around the time of speaking
At present we are using materials at nanoscale.
b) A fixed future plan
Next year they are building a new laboratory.
Present Perfect Tense describes an activity at a non-specific time in the past
Our contractor has built a new supporting wall.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense describes an activity which started in the past and continues to the present
We have been working on this project since last year.
| Present simple active | Medical implants patrol our arteries. |
| Present simple passive | Everything on Earth is made up of atoms. |
| Present continuous active | The scientist is diagnosing ailments. |
| Present continuous passive | The experiment is being made now. |
| Present perfect active | Scientists have found a wide variety of ways to deliberately make materials at the nanoscale. |
| Present perfect passive | Many claims have been made about the future's nanotechnological applications. |
| Present perfect continuous active | How long have you been using microscopes? |
Unit 2. PAST TENSES
Past Simple Tense describes an activity at a definite time in the past
The study of nanotechnology was started last century.
Past Continuous Tense describes an activity which is a time frame for another activity
While our team was studying performance, another team was looking at the characteristics.
Past Perfect Tense describes an activity that happened earlier than another activity in the past
Our studies showed how well the equipment had performed.
Past Perfect Continuous Tense describes an activity that started in the past and continued up until another time in the past.
James had been teaching at the university for more than a year before he left for Asia.
| Past simple active | We didn’t develop the software ourselves |
| Past simple passive | Where were the findings published? |
| Past continuous active | While the analyst was carrying out the test, the other technicians were not recording the results. |
| Past continuous passive | While the test was being carried out, the results were being recorded. |
| Past perfect active | After he had compiled the results of the experiment, they were published. |
| Past perfect passive | Because the data had not been recorded, the scientists had to repeat the experiment. |
| Past perfect continuous active | We had been evaluating the physical characteristics of the apparatus. |
Unit 3. FUTURE TENSES
Future Simple Tense is used to
describe a simple action in the future
She‘ll write the e-mail after lunch.
make a prediction or give a warning
Don’t lift that. You‘ll hurt yourself
make a spontaneous decision
You dropped your purse. I‘ll get it.
Future Continuous Tense is used
to describe an activity that will occur in the future and continue for a certain period of time. We can specify the time when the activity is going to take place
He will be attending the conference next month.
when we talk about an activity that will continue over a period of time from now into the future (an activity in progress that started at the present moment or at some time around the present moment)
They'll be studying until 5 o'clock.
to indicate that a longer action in the future will be interrupted by a shorter action in the future (in this case the shorter action in the future is expressed with Present Simple)
I'll be making dinner when he arrives tonight.
The future perfect simple is used to explain an activity that will be completed by a certain time in the future.
He will have completed her Bachelor’s Degree by June.
Future Perfect Continuous to show that something will continue up until a particular event or time in the future.
James will have been teaching at the university for more than a year by the time he leaves for Asia.
| Future simple active | We will celebrate our anniversary by flying to New York. |
| Future simple passive | The digital pictures will be uploaded to our website on the 1st of June. |
| Future continuous active | We'll be flying over the Atlantic Ocean for three hours |
| Future continuous passive | - |
| Future perfect active | By the time you arrive, we will have finished the meal and the speeches |
| Future perfect passive | By the time you return the office won’t have been cleaned yet. |
| Future perfect continuous active | In July next year, you will have been studying for three years. |
Unit 4. DIRECT SPEECH
Direct speech repeats the exact words of the speaker.
She says «What time will you be at home?»
She said «What time will you be at home?»
INDIRECT SPEECH
Indirect (reported) speech focuses more on the content of what someone said rather than their exact words. In indirect speech, the structure of the reported clause depends on whether the speaker is reporting a statement, a question or a command.
| direct | indirect | reported clause | |
| Statement | ‘I’m tired,’ I said. | I told them (that) Iwas tired. | that -clause |
| Question | ‘Are you ready?’ the nurse asked Joel. ‘Who are you?’ she asked. | The nurse asked Joel if/whether he was ready. She asked me who I was. | if- clause /whether- clause wh- clause |
| Command | ‘Leave at once!’ they ordered. | They ordered us to leave at once. | to -infinitive clause |
Statements
The pilot said «The weather was extremely bad as the plane came in to land».
The pilot commented that the weather had been extremely bad as the plane came in to land.
Questions (yes/no)
He asked «Did you come by train or by bus?»
He asked me if I had come by train or by bus.