Expert: Steve Nelson - 5/9/2009

Question
QUESTION: What do you think/know about nanotechnology? what does it mean to you? Also, What is your perspective about nanoethics and its foundations?

Thank you for your insight!
Alexandria

ANSWER: I know a good bit about nanotechnology, it's an incredibly general term. It usually refers to anything fabricated on an atomic-level scale, but has been used to describe everything from coatings which are built up with molecular beam epitaxy to nanoparticles of ferrous metal (I have some at home in my kitchen) to make magnetic liquid to the nanobots of science fiction.  It's usually overused and overhyped, especially by the people referring to science fiction who make robots that apparently aren't subject to the laws of physics (nanobots would have an awfully tough time not blowing away in the wind, for example, as opposed to swarming us and eating people like in bad Sci-Fi channel movies).  Nanoethics is just a subset of the ethics behind science and technology, with concepts often examined under too much of a microscope (much like nanotechnology itself).  One of the biggest issues of real concerns with nanotechnology becomes nanofibers and nanoparticles from finished products (coatings) being possibly present in larger concentrations in the water.  While nanometer-sized particles and fibers occur all the time naturally, their chemical interactions can be a little unusual and nature isn't used to deal with large numbers of them.  The unknown nature of their effects on the environment is cause for concern and careful study, but not alarm.

If you have a more specific question about nanotechnology, you can follow up with another question.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for sharing your insights.

I was hoping what you thought about nanotechnology in terms of medicine: treatments, targeting cancer, medicine in the future and our current environment?
Also, how do you think nanotechnology will effect the business world, example, nanobusiness alliance, international outlook, investing, nano forecasts, things worth watching for? Thank you for your help!

"If I have seen further it is by standing on ye shoulders of Giants" Isaac Newton
Alexandria

Answer
The specific things you're asking about aren't really nanotechnology that a physicist would know about.  Most of it (the medical stuff) is pretty futuristic, not a lot of nanotech is currently actually deployed in medicine.  Also, as a nuclear physicist and not a business type, I'm not familiar with the other stuff.  Sounds like you need to ask someone who actually works on the business end of a company that specializes in nanotech for medicine.  That's a pretty specialized job.  You might want to start with one of the companies listed on this page:  http://www.understandingnano.com/medicine.html