Globally, companies sold more than $32 billion in nanotechnology-enabled products last year. Yep, nanotech is here to stay, but what the heck is it? 42% of us don't know what it is, but it makes fabric water resistant (which not everyone likes) and can help glass clean itself. Here are some of our favorite implementations.
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1) First of all, nanotech "matters" because of the absolutely endless problem-solving possibilities it offers the world, from the nano scale on up. Carbon tubes manufactured to this size -- nanotubes -- are stronger than steel wire, more conducive than copper wire and can support their weight a million times over. The possible applications are vast.
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2) Buckypaper, named for Buckminsterfullerene and our old friend Buckminster Fuller and made from the carbon nanotubes mentioned above, is 10 times lighter and 250 times stronger than steel, but is also highly conductive of heat and electricity. If the researchers are successful in making Buckypaper hold a charge it would be more energy-efficient, lighter, and would allow for a more uniform level of brightness than current CRT and LCD technology.
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3) Similarly, NanoSafe battery cells show some promise in replacing current lithium-ion technology; even after 15,000 cycles, the cells still retained over 85% of their original charge capacity. Phoenix Motorcars will feature them in their upcoming line of electric pickup trucks. The remaining two picks are after the jump...
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4) As with all new, innovative technologies, nanotechnology has attracted its fair share of controversy, garnering both steadfast advocates who tout its merits in revolutionizing healthcare, surveillance and materials and firm detractors who question its potential effects on human health and the environment. While it's still too early to tell, we sure hope the benefits outweigh the risks.
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5) Lastly, (and with tough firmly in cheek), we present the Old to a nano. Apple has "borrowed" a few of the central tenets of nanotech and applied it to a diminutive version of its iPod, which we trumpeted as the "Green Product of the Year" in 2005. Whoever said that size matters?
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I'm writing from KQED Public Broadcasting in San Francisco - We recently did a TV story on the Future of Nanosolar for QUEST - our multimedia series on environment, science and nature.
Watch “Solar City: The Future of Nanosolar”: http://www.kqed.org/quest/television/view/399
Nano technology is a huge risk to humans and the environment.
Few scientists have the guts to even question Nano because they have so many friends who would not have jobs without nano related grants or funding.
We can not test if nano tech is safe. Think of asbestos or diethylstilbestrol (DES). DES was given to a test group of moms who showed no side effects. Only 20 years later did we find out their offspring were not fertile. Once we find the error you can't remove a Nano mistake. If a nano helper robot becomes a monster you can't bring it back.
We can't be brainwashed or GREENwashed just because someone tells us a nano chemical or paint or fiber will save the earth today.
Pretend we invent a new nano particle that can help deliver a drug for a glaucoma victim, Yet, it turns out that particle can ..oops by accident.. do any of the following:
- cause cancer
- bypass other protective bariers and carry viruses with it.
- encounter and change some other chemical and that in turn causes cancer
- cause a mutation in adult DNA than then only shows symptoms in the offspring 20 years later
- becomes a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teratogen
see this link
http://www.zmag.org/Sustainers/Content/2005-10/16hepburn.cfm
"There is a wide range of concerns with nanotechnology, backed by a growing body of scientific evidence. ...The health impacts of nanoparticles are also starting to raise alarm bells.. Ironically, it's possible that in our attempt to prevent skin cancer from excessive sun exposure, we are actually causing cancer through the use of sunscreen. ...The problem is that nobody is listening. Products containing nanoparticles are already on the shelves, and include sunscreens, cosmetics, car parts and silicon chips. In the not too distant future we can expect this list to include food and pharmaceutical products. ....There is an urgent and growing regulatory gap, where product development is being fast-tracked at the expense of community health and safety."
Please, lets not go nano crazy just so we can say our Prius has nano Eco Tires.
I'd love to know who is leading the fight to stop Nano?
Count me out of Nano. Signed, Joe
If the researchers are successful in making Buckypaper hold a charge it would be more energy-efficient, lighter, and would allow for a more uniform level of brightness than current CRT and LCD technology.