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Ocean acidification (OA) and the resultant changing carbonate saturation states is threatening the formation of calcium carbonate shells and exoskeletons of marine organisms. The production of biominerals in such organisms relies on the availability of carbonate and the ability of the organism to biomineralize in changing environments. To understand how biomineralizers will respond to OA the common blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, was cultured at projected levels of pCO 2 (380, 550, 750, 1000 matm) and increased temperatures (ambient, ambient plus 28C). Nanoindentation (a single mussel shell) and microhardness testing were used to assess the material properties of the shells. Young's modulus (E), hardness (H ) and toughness (K IC ) were measured in mussel shells grown in multiple stressor conditions. OA caused mussels to produce shell calcite that is stiffer (higher modulus of elasticity) and harder than shells grown in control conditions. The outer shell (calcite) is more brittle in OA conditions while the inner shell (aragonite) is softer and less stiff in shells grown under OA conditions. Combining increasing ocean pCO 2 and temperatures as projected for future global ocean appears to reduce the impact of increasing pCO 2 on the material properties of the mussel shell. OA may cause changes in shell material properties that could prove problematic under predation scenarios for the mussels; however, this may be partially mitigated by increasing temperature.

2) Fundaci6n Labein, Spain iiiiir 1. ABSTRACT The paper is an extended summary of the state-of-the-art report on Application of Nanotechnology in Construction, which is one of the main tasks of a European project -Towards the setting up of a Network of Excellence in Nanotechnology in Construction (NANOCONEX). The paper first presents background information and current developments of nanotechnology in general. Then, the current activities and awareness of nanotechnology in the construction industry are examined by analysing results of a survey of construction professionals and leading researchers in the field. This is followed by results of a desk study of nanotechnology development and activities focussing on key areas relevant to construction and the built environment.Examples of nanotechnology-enabled materials and products that are either on the market or ready to be adopted in the construction industry are provided. Finally, the future trend/potential and implications of nanotechnology development in construction are discussed. INTRODUCTION BackgroundNanotechnology has recently become one of the 'hottest' areas in research and development worldwide, and has also attracted considerable attention in the media and investment community. It is essentially about new ways of making things through understanding and control over the fundamental building blocks (i.e. atoms, molecules and nanostmctures) of all physical things. This is likely to change the way almost everything is designed and made [1]. With the backing of unprecedented funding, nanotechnology is fast emerging as the industrial revolution of the 21 st century [2]. What is nanotechnology?In contrast to other technologies, nanotechnology is much less well-defined and well-structured. Nano, which comes from the Greek word for dwarf, indicates a billionth. One nanometre is a billionth of a metre, that is, about 1/80,000 of the diameter of a human hair. Nanotechnology can best be considered as a 'catch-all' description of activities (any application of science and technology) at the nanometre scale that have applications in the real world [3]. Definitions of 'nanotechnology' vary, but it generally refers to understanding and manipulation of matter on the nanoscale, say, from 0.1 run to 100 nm.The significance and importance of controlling matter at the nanoscale is that at this scale different laws of physics come into play (quantum physics); traditional materials such as metals and ceramics show radically enhanced properties and new functionalities, the behaviour of surfaces starts to dominate the behaviour of bulk materials, and whole new

A novel damage-tolerant bulk material with superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties is fabricated by a facile method.

Here the authors report the use of elastic deformation to stabilize the necessary air cushions that are required to maintain durable superhydrophobic surfaces with a Cassie–Baxter state. The fabricated silicone surfaces displayed permanent superhydrophobicity in various harsh environments.

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