WA scientists are gathering momentum in the race to be first in the world to make economical hydrogen cars thanks to groundbreaking research into tiny magnesium nanoparticles.

SCIENTISTS exploring nanotechnology’s frontiers aren’t quite as pioneering as might be thought, according to a science historian who says the notion of atomic manipulation can be traced back almost 100 years.

FOR artist Paul Thomas, combining artistic expression with nanotechnology lets his audience stand in the shoes of God.

NANOTECHNOLOGY may be one of the more exciting developments in science but it isn’t something you can play around with on your home chemistry set.

SILENT Barrage is one of the most technologically-advanced pieces of artistic inquisition in the world, using a robotic creation to investigate the nature of thought and neural dysfunction in a SymbioticA support project.

WHEN Dr Swaminathan Iyer is working, it’s hard to see what he’s doing – because most of his research focuses on things that can’t be seen with the human eye.

RESEARCHERS at Curtin University of Technology have completed work on a technology that will provide an unparalleled ability to explore diverse environments, from oceans and rivers to the human body.

IN this age of big science, with atomic colliders, Square Kilometre Arrays and space stations, I am constantly amazed at the advances taking place at the atomic and molecular levels.

THE University of Western Australia is moving to the forefront of global imaging and analysis with the addition of a powerful and sensitive instrument that can search for evidence of the earliest life on Earth, help find new ore deposits, and detect weapons-grade uranium in minute dust particles.

LAST weeks’ Curtin Commercial Innovation Awards saw the university’s Dr Qin Li awarded a commendation for a new nanotechnology method of producing light-emitting carbon dots.

NCC-WA aims to be a world-class regional and national technology-enabling provider, supplying best practice in targeted cutting-edge research and industry-relevant nanoscale characterisation that maximises the benefits to the general community from industry and institutional research and development in WA. The primary objective of the Centre is to continue major equipment acquisition to ensure that the State’s researchers have access to state-of-the-art technology.

In this special report ScienceNetwork WA highlights several rapidly expanding areas of science that will play a major role in the State's future development, economically and educationally.

SCIENCE in 2008 will be driven largely by a booming resources sector that will either boost or bury the development of some of the State's biggest emerging technologies.

THE public may not yet know much about nanotechnology, but the science of controlling matter on a miniscule scale is set to have a giant impact on our lives.

WANRI brings together all the major strengths in nanochemistry in the State. It creates a critical mass of expertise, equipment and facilities, and establishes a cohesive and coherent research focus to facilitate the development of nano-based research and industries. Capability in nanochemistry will be integral to future scientific endeavour and industry development, and WANRI will support the development and introduction of nano-scale technologies into the State's industrial base.