Nanotechnology is the engineering of tiny machines - the projected ability to build things from the bottom up inside personal nanofactories (PNs), using techniques and tools being developed today to make complete, highly advanced products. Ultimately, nanotechnology will enable control of matter at the nanometer scale, using mechanochemistry. Shortly after this envisioned molecular machinery is created, it will result in a manufacturing revolution, probably causing severe disruption. It also has serious economic, social, environmental, and military implications.
A nanometer is one billionth of a meter, roughly the width of three or four atoms. The average human hair is about 25,000 nanometers wide.
Unfortunately, conflicting definitions of nanotechnology and blurry distinctions between two significantly different fields have complicated the effort to understand the differences and develop sensible, effective policy.
A nanometer is one billionth of a meter, roughly the width of three or four atoms. The average human hair is about 25,000 nanometers wide.
Unfortunately, conflicting definitions of nanotechnology and blurry distinctions between two significantly different fields have complicated the effort to understand the differences and develop sensible, effective policy.
Copyright©2006-2007 What-is.Net All rights reserved.
Last Updated: June 6, 2007
Last Updated: June 6, 2007
The risks of today's nanoscale technologies (nanoparticle toxicity, etc.) cannot be treated the same as the risks of longer-term molecular manufacturing (economic disruption, unstable arms race, etc.). It is a mistake to put them together in one basket for policy consideration-each is important to address, but they offer different problems and will require different solutions.
Nanotechnology is often referred to as a general-purpose technology. That's because in its advanced form it will have significant impact on almost all industries and all areas of society. It offers better built, longer lasting, cleaner, safer, and smarter products for the home, for communications, for medicine, for transportation, for agriculture, and for industry in general.
Nanotechnology is often referred to as a general-purpose technology. That's because in its advanced form it will have significant impact on almost all industries and all areas of society. It offers better built, longer lasting, cleaner, safer, and smarter products for the home, for communications, for medicine, for transportation, for agriculture, and for industry in general.
