Nanotechnology: Really, really small stuff that's really big
Friday, July 25, 2008 - 12:56
in Physics & Chemistry
You may never have heard of it, but chances are some of the products you use make use of nanotechnology. These products include particles so small, they might be able to pass through the wall of a cell. Nanomaterials are measured in nanometres - or millionths of a millimetre. A human hair is 100,000 times thicker than a particle measuring one nanometre. Proponents hail nanotechnologies as the next industrial revolution, with the potential to make cancer therapy more effective, consumer products more durable, solar cells more efficient and revolutionize the natural gas industry. Others fear there may be severe health risks that we haven't considered yet.
