Nanotechnology Research

Posted on December 17, 2005  Comments (2)

Nanotech’s super salesman by Darin Barney, Globe and Mail (Canada), review of
The Dance of Molecules: How Nanotechnology is Changing Our Lives by Ted Sargent.:

As one might expect, the biggest prizes are medical. Nanoscale “chips that merge computer technologies with cells and genes and proteins” will act as early warning beacons in the detection of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Spread of these diseases will be checked at the earliest stages by pharmacies on a chip, implanted in our bodies and programmed remotely by our physician’s cellphone to deliver “a veritable cocktail of drugs.” And if this doesn’t work (or even if we are just overcome by “our unquenchable thirst for self-improvement”), nanoscale tissue engineering will provide a ready supply of replacement parts.

Panel looks at ways to clean up nanotech’s act:

But nanotech may also introduce unwanted side effects that, if not managed effectively, might prompt bans on useful nanomaterials.

Nanotech pioneers can look at asbestos and DDT as examples of materials that solved critical long-standing problems, but caused health and environmental problems so severe as to nullify the materials’ benefits. Nanotechnology is setting out on the same road, promising effective medical treatments and “miracle” consumer products, but also posing threats that must be neutralized if the technology is to be accepted.

Nanotechnology provides great promise. The dangers cannot be ignored, however. Managing those dangers is not an easy task. Those promoting moving forward quickly often ignore potential problems. And given the way the scientific and engineering landscape is changing worldwide, if any country creates to many barriers to research that research will likely move elsewhere, along with many high paying jobs.

2 Responses to “Nanotechnology Research”

  1. Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » Great Nanotechnology Overview
    September 4th, 2006 @ 11:01 am

    […] The potential for nanotechnology is amazing but as we have said before the risks presented by nanotechnology also need careful study. At the nanoscale, fundamental mechanical, electronic, optical, chemical, biological, and other properties may differ significantly from properties of micrometer-sized particles or bulk materials. […]

  2. Joe Mangrove
    December 1st, 2007 @ 4:49 pm

    Nanotechnology is going to be a permanent part of our culture in the near future. The main problem, like the article states, is finding wasy to minimize the risk of nanotechnology products. If not, 100 years from now nanotech material could lead to similar problems that asbestos has caused. It is going to be interesting how large corporations and government go about tackling this all to important issue.

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