Science and Technology is rapidly developing and greatly changing how we as humans perceive the world. But does all this technological advancement really has a limit? Is there a point or a time when all this will come to an end. In all areas of study I’m sure everybody can say a thing or two about how things have changed for the better and maybe for the worse.
In all these areas of study, be it Engineering, Medicine, Architectural or the Sciences there is one field of study that transcends all these areas and has an application in practically every field: Nanotechnology. It has been around for a long time but recent developments has really hyped it up to the extent that virtually anything is possible with it right now, well theoretically that is. Although Nanotechnology promises to be the future of science and technology not many people know that much about it.
You might have watched the pilot edition of Knight Rider released in 2008.My guess is when you saw what the car could do you were like wow. Yeah I know it is wow. Wondering what exactly makes that car, KIT tick. Among a host of others Nanotechnology is the most prominent. How the car could change color and model. And yes the other amazing part how the Bullet Proof SUV collided into the car and got scrambled while the car did not even scratch. That is all Nanotechnology.
A little History
Richard Feynman, a Physicist and future Nobel Prize winner in December 29, 1959 was the first person to give a lecture at an American Physical Society meeting at Caltech on the topic “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom”. This lecture was basically about miniaturization and how it could be applied to make smaller but more powerful devices.
The term Nanotechnology however was coined by Dr. K Eric Drexler in 1986, when he wrote “Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology”“which in fact is considered the first book on Nanotechnology.
Just How Small Is “Nano”
To be able to understand how small the Nano scale is lets look at the following.
1. Nanometer is 1billionth of a meter, that is 10-9 m which is smaller than the wavelength of light
2. The Head of a pin is 1mm=1,000,000nm
3. A Red blood cell is 2.5 micrometers=2,500nm
Now just how small is that? Imagine working with particles this small and how much smaller and stronger we could make things like cars, Planes and Submarines.
What Can Nanotechnology be used for
Why is Nanotechnology receiving all this hype? Well as we said earlier on, Nanotechnology cuts across almost all areas of study. It would surprise you to know the kind of application Nanotechnology promises and which areas it is already being used in.
Let’s now look at some application
• Sunscreen Lotions - Many sunscreens contain nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium oxide. Older sunscreen formulas use larger particles, which is what gives most sunscreens their whitish color. Smaller particles are less visible, meaning that when you rub the sunscreen into your skin, it doesn't give you a whitish tinge.
• Self-cleaning glass - A company called Pilkington offers a product they call Activ Glass, which uses nanoparticles to make the glass photocatalytic and hydrophilic. The photocatalytic effect means that when UV radiation from light hits the glass, nanoparticles become energized and begin to break down and loosen organic molecules on the glass (in other words, dirt). Hydrophilic means that when water makes contact with the glass, it spreads across the glass evenly, which helps wash the glass clean.
• Clothing - Scientists are using nanoparticles to enhance your clothing. By coating fabrics with a thin layer of zinc oxide nanoparticles, manufacturers can create clothes that give better protection from UV radiation. Some clothes have nanoparticles in the form of little hairs or whiskers that help repel water and other materials, making the clothing stain-resistant.
• Scratch-resistant coatings - Engineers discovered that adding aluminum silicate nanoparticles to scratch-resistant polymer coatings made the coatings more effective, increasing resistance to chipping and scratching. Scratch-resistant coatings are common on everything from cars to eyeglass lenses.
• Antimicrobial bandages - Scientist Robert Burrell created a process to manufacture antibacterial bandages using nanoparticles of silver. Silver ions block microbes' cellular respiration [source: Burnsurgery.org]. In other words, silver smothers harmful cells, killing them.
• Swimming pool cleaners and disinfectants - EnviroSystems, Inc. developed a mixture (called a nanoemulsion) of nano-sized oil drops mixed with a bactericide. The oil particles adhere to bacteria, making the delivery of the bactericide more efficient and effective.
More and more is being done everyday and you could be using products that are made from Nanotechnology without knowing it.Wrinkle-resistant fabrics, deep-penetrating cosmetics, liquid crystal displays (LCD) and other devices using nanotechnology are already on the market.
What to Expect in the Future
Ever watched Star Trek? Well if you have you would have noticed that machines called Replicators can produce practically any object with weapons being an example. This can be achieved by the properties of atoms and molecules being able to stick together due to the fact that they have complementary shapes that lock together or simply attract each other. As millions of these atoms are combined by a machine called the nanomachine, a specific product if formed.
Intel Is currently working on flexible IC’s but that is another topic for another day. However the future looks bright for microprocessors as nanochips promise smaller yet more efficient chips for computers and other devices.
Virtually any elctrical component can be “Nanorized” with greater efficiency. Capacitors and the like.
Is It all Safe With Nanotechnology
Like every technology Nanotechnology has its own problems. The moral and environmental implication of the technology is something that many people are really making a lot of noise about.
For example the use of nanorobots that can be used to give humans super abilities is an issue with grave moral implications that many argue about.
Researchers have discovered that silver nanoparticles used in socks to reduce foot odor when washed release into the drains have possible negative consequences. Silver nanoparticles, which are bacteriostatic, may then destroy beneficial bacteria which are important for breaking down organic matter in waste treatment plants or farms.
A study at the University of Rochester found that when rats breathed in nanoparticles, the particles settled in the brain and lungs, which lead to significant increases in biomarkers for inflammation and stress response.
These are a few negatives of nanotechnology but what about the positives. I guess it is up to us to look at both sides and look at how best to take advantage of the technology and make the best out of it. Check out howstuffworks.com for more info on this issue