But nanotechnology will play its

February 21st, 2009

The Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering Royal Society GE Global Research Bionanotechnology Centre, University of Oxford The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites TOP SCIENCENATURE STORIES Mars twofaced riddle solved UK plans big wind power expansion Fossil fills out waterland leap. Using materials which exploit properties of nanoparticles, GE has developed chip adhesives that can transfer heat out of the processor system more efficiently. In this respect, nanotechnology could enable developing nations to leapfrog older technologies, in the way that copper wire and optical fibre telephony were superseded by mobile phones.

Nanotechnology in the form of flexible films containing miniaturised electrodes is expected to transform the performance of materials, like polymers, electronics, paints, batteries, sensors, fuel cells, solar cells, coatings, computers and display systems. But it is in medicine that nanotechnology offers the remarkable advances, according to Professor Ryan. The possibility of individualised therapy is also on the horizon.

If you look around at the moment in big city, significant proportion of material that you breathe in is already particulates and proportion of that is nanosized, like diesel emissions, said Professor Welland. Medical sensing is very attractive to everybody, but there could be downside, explained Professor Welland. But it is in medicine that nanotechnology offers the remarkable advances, according to Professor Ryan. It is hoped that the report grounds some unrealistic scenarios, while recognising that real concerns need to be addressed with regulation.

Toxic warnings for nano industry Tighter control for tiny science Prince warns of science risks Nanotech guru turns back on goo Tiny science lost on UK public Tiny particles threaten brain Sainsbury cools nanononsense Nanotech under the microscope BACKGROUND Myths and realities of nano futures By Jo Twist BBC News Online science and technology staff Ever since John Dalton convinced the world of the existence of atoms in scientists have wanted to do things with them. Using materials which exploit properties of nanoparticles, GE has developed chip adhesives that can transfer heat out of the processor system more efficiently.

Similarly, in years time, the way medical testing is done will be considered crude. Similarly, fears over green goo, the concern that selfreplicating, nanosized biological particles will move into human bodies and do unpredictable things, is scaremongering, thinks Professor Welland. Because of the molecular structure of such materials, nanoceramic coatings on aircraft could make them 10 more efficient, so less energy is used, producing fewer emissions. If medical sensors become ubiquitous, our physical state could be monitored hours day, and if someone hacked into that data, there could be concerns.