No Small Achievement, Surely

SMALL and getting bountiful. The possibility of manipulating materials at an incredibly small scale to improve almost every aspect of life continues to mesmerize experts and entrepreneurs alike. Global spending on nano-technology research is currently estimated to be $12 billion. By 2014, this industry could be worth $2.5 trillion, offering tools for improving health care, food production, electronics, energy output, transportation, and a variety of everyday needs.
At a basic level, nano-materials exploit unusual electrical, optical, and other properties because of the very precise way in which their atoms are arranged. The true extent of their application essentially remains unknown. This reality, aided by the creativity of science fiction writers, has spawned scary scenarios ranging from swarms of self-replicating robots devouring the planet to nano-sized biological particles moving into human bodies and wreaking havoc.
Dismissing such scare-mongering, most experts foresee remarkable advances in medicine. Nano-technology is expected to provide earlier and better diagnostics, while treatment would combine earlier and more precisely targeted drug delivery. Furthermore, the miniaturization of medical diagnostic and sensing tools could drive down costs of such kits for developing countries. Behind this rosy prognosis, however, governments are coming under increasing fire for failing to fund adequate research into the potential risks. A recent review conducted by Britain’s Council for Science and Technology found that not enough had been done to understand the possible environmental and health effects of nano-technology, especially in view of the growing number of products on the market containing these manufactured ultra-small materials.
Admittedly, the commercial viability of nano-technology, like any other novel venture, rests on its ability to maximize benefits as well as minimize risks. Focused research, bolstered by sustained funding, would provide manufacturers with sufficient knowledge to build safe products. Consumers, on the other hand, would be confident enough to espouse products and processes with such immense promise.