How small is a nano? It is one-billionth of a meter, or twenty times smaller than the width of a human hair. Still difficult to imagine? Visualize a nano the way National Geographic puts it, a nanometer to a meter is comparable to a marble with the size of the earth.

So what is nanotechnology? It’s the application of science that encompasses all types of work which manipulates objects that are less than 1,000 nanometers, or an easier phrase to remember is “science of the miniature.”

A dull definition maybe, and definitely not science fiction, but this incredible technology has the ability to alter all our lives in ways that beggar belief. Though you might have seen the latest movie about microscopic robots taking over the world or read about the potential health problems associated with nanoproducts, be aware that nanotechnology is not a scary new development. In fact, it has been around for centuries.

Unwittingly, medieval church artists are one of the first to utilize the potentials of nanotechnology. They have discovered that by pounding gold into nanoparticles, it would take on a bright red color which these artisans used in stained glass windows.

At the turn of the 20^th century, the tires of early automobiles were coated with carbon black to reduce thermal damage and prolong their life. Also one of nanotechnology’s initial and most popular applications, carbon black is the product of the incomplete combustion of coal. So as you can see it’s not a novel or terrifying technology after all. But what is all the fuss about?

The recent hype regarding this race to miniaturization is because for the first time we have begun to understand how nanotechnology works and interacts in the physical world. Not only have we manipulated nanotechnology (which, as mentioned above has been done perhaps unwittingly in centuries past), we have seen the vast potential and huge promise of this tiny technology.

Interestingly, though most people know little or nothing about nanotechnology and virtually all of us have a form of nanotechnology-influenced product in our closet or kitchen pantry.

The application of nanotechnology in consumer products is growing, and accounted for over $50 billion in sales in 2006. However, nanotechnology still faces its biggest obstacle – public trust.

Due to the limited knowledge and skeptical public perception about nanotechnology, consumers are hesitant to respond to early products. Government and industries have to work to build consumer trust in nano-products so consumers can reach for that invisible sunscreen or water-proof pair of pants with confidence.

Benefits and Risks of Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology indeed has the potential to be truly revolutionary. Just as plastics transformed our lives in the 1960s, nanotechnology will become an indispensable part of our lives in just a few years. It will make quality of life better and lengthen our lifespans through its application in medicine. It can provide solutions to everyday problems by creating better cosmetics, communication devices and ordinary consumer products.

One promising and exciting application of nanotechnology is in oncology. Undoubtedly, the biggest challenge to the prevention of cancer today is early diagnosis. However, with the latest technological advances, nanoparticles can be used together with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to obtain a clearer picture of a suspected cancerous tumor. In cancer therapy, nanomaterials have made selectively attacking cancer cells while saving healthy tissues easier. The application of nano-sized drugs targeting solely cancer cells maximize the therapeutic benefits of the treatment while reducing the risks of patients succumbing to the ill-effects of drugs. Also in the promising stages of development are microscopic nano-machines that are capable of being inserted inside the body to repair cancerous cells.

However, just like most technological revolutions in the past, nanotechnology is met with much skepticism and controversy. People react with concern to the potentially adverse effects of nanotechnology to the environment and their very own health. And indeed, these kinds of concerns are justified.

Because of the newness of this technology, scientists and industries do not have the appropriate governmental and legislative guidelines to keep them in check. Can the public be assured of reliable information? Who takes the blame for the negative effects of nanotechnology? Have adequate safety measures been set up to ensure the protection of people who come in contact with nanoproducts and nano-waste?

The scientific world is still at the early stages of understanding nanotechnology and much more still needs to be done to improve on this novel technology and minimize its negative effects. As always, science should work hand in hand with ethics, for what good is progress at the expense of our lives.

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