Jos Pocholo Manas Mandia Class 1127 General Paper Term 2 Assignment 1 Scientific Discovery: Nanotechnology

What is Nanotechnology? Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter of an atomic and molecular scale. It basically involves the development of devices, materials and other structures with at least a single-dimensional size of 1 to 100 nanometers (One nanometer is a billionth of a meter). It also involves a wide range of applications of other fields of science such as those in biology and chemistry. The origins of nanotechnology can be traced back to the 1980s, around the time when the scanning tunneling microscope, a device that allows people to observe substances at an atomic level, and also around the time when carbon structures called fullerenes were discovered as well. However the commercial applications of nanotechnology only began in the early 2000s, with a scope limited to the mass production of nanomaterials.

Some current uses of Nanotechnology:

Medicine (Nanomedicine): Nanotechnology has been used to allow certain medicines to be directly delivered to specific cells using substances called nanoparticles. This allows parts of the body to be targeted and allows only the required dose of medicine to be delivered. This can reduce costs in curing patients and as well as reducing the patients suffering. Nanotechnology has also allowed scientists to develop synthetic human tissue. Tissue engineering, as its called, uses nanostructures to stimulate the growth of cells. Currently, this technology has allowed doctors to repair bones using carbon nanotubes. Nanotechnoloy has allowed companies such as SynDaver Labs to develop synthetic human body parts, to make more realistic substitutes to cadavers, live animals and human patients in clinical training and surgical simulations.

Environment and Energy Problem Solutions: Nanotechnology has allowed people to convert non-potable water to potable water through the use of nanofilters that help remove bacterium and viral contaminants in the water. Such filters are used in Singapores NEWater plants that recycle waste

water into potable water. This technology has allowed countries such as Singapore to overcome constraints in water supply. Energy consumption can also be reduced with the aid of nanotechnology. More efficient lighting systems, such as Light Emitting Diodes or LED, can convert more electrical energy into light energy, hence strongly reducing the consumption of electricity. Scientists are still working on ways to improve renewable energy sources, such as solar panels using technology, so as to increase their energy output.

Construction and Heavy Materials: Nanotechnology has been used to construct lighter and stronger materialsnanomaterials, as they are called-that are useful in the construction of better vehicles, aircraft and buildings. Nanotechnology has allowed people to put desired characteristics into certain materials as well. For instance, the addition of copper nanoparticles into steel allows it to bear more physical stress, making it a stronger material. Special coatings have also been developed using nanotechnology to give certain surfaces desired properties. For instance, certain nanocements have flame resistant properties that can be used in coating steel structures. This is a cheaper alternative compared to conventional fire insulation. This would result in lower construction costs for buildings and other structures as a result.

Concerns about Nanotechnology: Health Concerns: Researchers have found that when rats breathed in nanoparticles, the particles settled in the brain and lungs, which led to significant increases in biomarkers for inflammation and stress response and that nanoparticles induce skin aging through oxidative stress in hairless mice. A two-year study at UCLA's School of Public Health found lab mice consuming nanotitanium dioxide showed DNA and chromosome damage to a degree "linked to all the big killers of man, namely cancer, heart disease, neurological disease and aging". A major study published more recently in Nature Nanotechnology suggests some forms of carbon nanotubes a poster child for the nanotechnology revolution could be as harmful as asbestos if inhaled in sufficient quantities. Anthony Seaton of the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh, Scotland, who contributed to the article on carbon nanotubes said "We know that some of them probably have the potential to cause mesothelioma. So those sorts of materials need to be handled very carefully." In the absence of specific regulation forthcoming from governments, Paull and Lyons (2008) have called for an exclusion of engineered nanoparticles in food. A newspaper article reports that workers in a paint factory developed serious lung disease and nanoparticles were found in their lungs.

The health impact of nanotechnology are the possible effects that the use of nanotechnological materials and devices will have on human health. As nanotechnology is an emerging field, there is great debate regarding to what extent nanotechnology will benefit or pose risks for human health. Nanotechnology's health impact can be split into two aspects: the potential for nanotechnological innovations to have medical applications to cure disease, and the potential health hazards posed by exposure to nanomaterials.

Social and Ethical Concerns: Nanomedicine will generate social and ethical debates regarding issues such as whether implantable nano-devices that can constantly monitor for illness compromise privacy rights and risk abuse; whether neurobiochips that stimulate brain function give humans machine-like qualities and steer society on a path toward mental manipulation through implantable devices in the brain; and whether technology that makes bones stronger, enhances speed, and improves longevity is socially desirable.127 Appalling visions of a future world dominated by nanorobots have already caused some to call for a prohibition on all nanotechnology research. For example, Bill Joy of Sun Microsystems has argued that abuse of nanotechnology could pose a threat to humanity. Nanotechnology could result in a devastating plague or be used to create weapons of mass destruction. K. Eric Drexler has predicted the ways in which this technology might be harmful. His writings discuss the "grey goo" problem: nanomachines self-replicating out of control and demolishing everything in their path. Nanotechnologies may provide new solutions for the millions of people in developing countries who lack access to basic services, such as safe water, reliable energy, health care, and education. The United Nations has set Millennium Development Goals for meeting these needs. The 2004 UN Task Force on Science, Technology and Innovation noted that some of the advantages of nanotechnology include production using little labor, land, or maintenance, high productivity, low cost, and modest requirements for materials and energy. However, concerns are frequently raised that the claimed benefits of nanotechnology will not be evenly distributed, and that any benefits (including technical and/or economic) associated with nanotechnology will only reach affluent nations. The majority of nanotechnology research and development - and patents for nanomaterials and products - is concentrated in developed countries (including the United States, Japan, Germany, Canada and France). In addition, most patents related to nanotechnology are concentrated amongst few multinational corporations, including IBM, Micron Technologies, Advanced Micro Devices and Intel. This has led to fears that it will be unlikely that developing countries will have access to the infrastructure, funding and human resources required to support nanotechnology research and development, and that this is likely to exacerbate such inequalities. Producers in developing countries could also be disadvantaged by the replacement of natural products (including rubber, cotton, coffee and tea) by developments in nanotechnology. These natural products are important export crops for developing countries, and many farmers' livelihoods depend on them. It has been argued that their substitution with industrial nano-products could negatively impact the

economies of developing countries, that have traditionally relied on these export crops.