Title: Nano World

Learning Outcomes

1. Define the major potential and realized impacts of nanotechnology on society.

2. Analyze nanotechnology through the conceptual STS lenses; and

3. Examine the costs and benefits to society of nanotechnology.

What is Nanotechnology/ Nano World?

- Humans are now dealing more and more with a world not seen by the naked eye. The
information we search for is always available in nature. But we need tools to gather it.
- The nano world, like the other scientific principles, provides both knowledge and
instrument to control nature.
- The term “nano” refers to a unit meaning one billionth of a meter or ten raised to negative
nine. ‘Nano’ expresses a very tiny amount or size. It is very small that cannot be seen
with the unaided human eye or even with most microscopes.
- Just as we are not aware of the air we breathe or the molecules constantly feeding our
cells at every second, we are also not conscious of these very little particles. Nanoscience
therefore, deals with materials that are very small using specialized microscopes and
other nanodevices.
- But what is the purpose of dealing with such small entities?
- Without these nanotechnology, people would not even be aware of how this tiny word
surrounds and affects us.

Impacts of Nanotechnology on Society

 Food and agriculture - In Agriculture, nano technology has developed smart warning
system to alert the farmers regarding the disease before they are visible to farmers and in
Food research, nano technology has affected the entire process from production,
processing and consumption of food.

 National security - Nanotechnology has helped in National Security. Carbon nanotubes

and diamond films have much higher strength to weight ratio than steel which will make
lighter and stronger parts for defense equipment, aircrafts. There are some nano particles
which can make aircrafts more resistive to lighting.

 Environment - One of the big innovations in Nanotechnology is Cleaner Water which

includes the use of nanorobotics to break down each atom of water pollution. According
to United Nations, more than one billion people in developing countries do not have
access to clean water.
  Nanomedicine/health impact - In the field of medicine, nanotechnology has provided
nano particles to deliver the drugs to specific cells, polymer based nanoparticles are
invented to improve the pharmacological properties of drugs. Current research is going
on to design nanoparticles for the treatment of Cancer; these nanoparticles are attracted or
absorbed by diseased cell. One can envision nano scale robotic systems for medical
applications.

 Energy - Nanotechnology has affected the Energy Sector ranges from long lasting
batteries, low cost system of heating, air conditioning, and better method for capturing,
transferring and storing of energy

These are just a few out of thousands of ways that nanotechnology impacts society. The benefits
and risks of technology are so large that it is not easy to define that nanotechnology is
constructive technology or destructive technology.

ADVANTAGES

With nanotechnology, we can create unique materials and products which are:

• Stronger

• Lighter

• Cheaper

• Durable

• Precise

• Computers can become a billion times faster and a million times smaller.

• Consume less energy and high capacity memory

• Manufacturing at almost no cost.

DISADVANTAGES

• Loss of jobs

• Carbon nanotubes could cause infection of lungs

• Oil and diamonds could become worthless.

 • Enhances global warming in the long run

“Nanotechnology is an enabling technology that will change the nature of almost

every human made object in the next century.”

“The Next Big Thing Is Really Small.”

References:
https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/10-ways-nanotechnology-impacts-lives

https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4992

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_nanotechnology