Nanoscience and nanotechnology

When talking about the way humans interfere with nature we found an interesting
and important subject which got our attention, mainly because of the controversial
impact that it could bring in our daily life: Nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small
devices. It can be used in many science fields, such as medicine, biology, physics,
materials science and engineering. Nanotechnology, also known as "nanotech", is
the manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale
known as nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers. One nanometer (nm) is
one billionth of a meter. A really tiny piece which can make incredible things!

Nanotech involves the ability to see and to control individual atoms and molecules.
Everything on Earth is made up of atoms: the food we eat, the buildings and
houses we live in and also our own bodies. That is the reason why a majority of
biological processes occur at the nanoscale, and nanotechnology provides
scientists with models and templates to design and construct new processes that
can enhance their work in many other fields.

Everyday scientists from all over the world are developing critical advances in
nanotechnology. The last month researchers from an institute in Tokyo announced
the development of nanoneedles, needles capable of delivering particles and
proteins into the nucleus of a cell. Just as important, this week a scientist from the
California Institute of Technology established that nanotechnology could be used in
the earlier detection of cancer, he said that cancer causes many complex changes
at a molecular scale that cannot be detected by existing tests. It means that in the
future we will detect cancer using just one single drop of blood, similar to diabetes
tests, little nanoparticles will search and track subtle chemical changes on our
cells.

Despite of being a useful technology, nanotech raises as many issues as any new
technology brings, including concerns about the toxicity and environmental impact
of nanomaterials, as well as speculation about various doomsday scenarios, for
example, some people think new epidemics could be created and spread by
nanotechnology. These concerns have led to a debate among different scientists
groups and governments about the necessity of making a law to establish limits
about its use.

In contrast, we must highlight the positive impact of this issue. Nanotechnology

could be able to create many new mechanisms and devices with an enormous
range of applications. As a result of several investigations, specifically in medicine,
nowadays particles which can rebuild damaged organs have been developed. In
addition, Nanoscience is innovating in health procedures, making tests easier and
less invasive.

Scientists currently debate the future implications of nanotechnology, but we think

that as any other scientific field it could be used in favor or against humanity. It
depends on the use people would give to it. For now, focusing on all the good
possibilities it will bring to us let’s watch how what we never believed comes alive.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology

http://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/what/definition

http://boletin-noticias-nanotecnologia.euroresidentes.com/