Nanotechnology: A Gentle Introduction to the Next Big Idea

Why Do I Care About Nano?

Over the past few years, a little word with big potential has been rapidly insinuating itself into the world's consciousness. That word is “nano.” It has conjured up speculation about a seismic shift in almost every aspect of science and engineering with implications for ethics, economics, international relations, day-to-day life, and even humanity's conception of its place in the universe. Visionaries tout it as the panacea for all our woes. Alarmists see it as the next step in biological and chemical warfare or, in extreme cases, as the opportunity for people to create the species that will ultimately replace humanity.

While some of these views are farfetched, nano seems to stir up popular, political, and media debate ...