User:Emilrajan1996

NANOTECHNOLOGY What is nanotechnology ?

It is the technology based on smaller things mostly comprising of nanostructures and atoms.

Its scale of measurement......It is based on nanometer scale, which is one billionth of a meter, smaller than wavelength of visible light or hundred thousand width of a human hair.

The challenging aspects of nanotechnology include the use of quantum mechanics, production of nano-sized wires and advent of nanoparticles in medical application. In his lecture DR.HORST STORMER said " Nanoscale is more interesting than atomic scale ".

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nanorobot3 IMPACTS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY It has impacts in various fields such as Computing and Data storage, Materials and Manufacturing, Health and Medicine, Energy, Transportation, etc. In Computing and Data storage field, it helps in development in processors with high speed, high durability, less energy consumption etc. Along with this it also helps in improvement in display and quantum technologies. In Materials and Manufacturing field, it helps in production of self healing machines, nanoscale building blocks and various materials without aid of machines. In Health and Medicine field, it helps in producing nanorobots to combat cancer cells, nanosensors for early diagnosis, etc. In Transportation field, it helps in producing light weight and low fuel consuming vehicles and also thermal and wear resistant coatings. In energy field, it provides alternative source of energy which has the capability to replace even solar energy.

PRODUCTS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY Products includes sunscreen lotions, which contains nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium oxide which prevent harmful UV rays from entering into our body, self cleaning glass-scratch resistant coatings which contains aluminium nanoparticles ,antimicrobial bandages which contains silver nanoparticles to block cellular respiration of microbes, etc., manufactured by Activ glass from Pilkington company.

MERITS AND DEMERITS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY Merits of nanotechnology:

• It is an enabling technology which has its impacts on electronics and computing, materials and manufacturing, etc.,
• Novel synthesis technique
• Large scale production of materials
• Great job opportunities
• Effective and cheap production of energy
• Water conservation
• Reduced pollution

Demerits of nanotechnology:

• Nanoparticles have the possibility of breaking into blood-brain barrier - a membrane to protect brain from harmful chemicals in blood stream
• Creation of powerful weapons - lethal & non-lethal
• Nano-divide [technological and economical differences between rich and poor]
• Loss of traditional methods
• Increase in aristocracies and reduce democracies
• Brain drain and trade barriers
• Black market in nanotech
• Free range self-replication [grey-goo]

NATIONS INVOLVED IN NANOTECHNOLOGY Nations involved

Historic leaders:

• US *JAPAN *GERMANY *SOUTH KOREA

New powers:

• CHINA * RUSSIA * INDIA *BRAZIL

Others:

• SOUTH AFRICA *THAILAND *PHILIPPINES *CHILE *ARGENTINA *MEXICO

CHINA:

• Nanotechnology is one of the four major projects in order to leapfrog US in technical development by 2020.

RUSSIA

• allocated $7.7billion for nanotech
• Established state owned NANOTECH CORPORATION “ROSNANOTEKH “, with initial budget of $5billion.

INDIA

• Plans to invest $254million
• Strives to become a global nanotech hub
• Setting up " nanoclusters " nationwide

BRAZIL

• 3 institutes, 4 networks approx-300 scientists are involved in nanofabrication R&D
• Bilateral partnerships with ARGENTINA and MEXICO

NANOTECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE FUEL ABILITY As we are facing the uncertainly in supply of crude oil, as well as affluent prices, other fuel source is a happening and hot topic. An interesting option could be ethanol, now made out of plants like sugar cane. Companies and universities are eagerly working to develop this process of making ethanol from many other kinds of plants; that might find a way of making ethanol accessible as fuel. Nanotechnology can assist this important effort. Presently ethanol that is used as fuel in the United States is made out of corn especially. The starch in the corn kernels is rehabilitated to sugar using enzymes. This starch is further fermented to produce ethanol. Any how, in order to make a necessary reduction in the United States consumption of crude oil, we require up that production by a long way. The goal prepared recently by the United States government is to make 35 billion gallons of ethanol a year within the next ten years. Researchers at Michigan State University are trying nanotechnology for this process. They are heritably engineering corn to produce the required enzyme. The plan is to make the enzyme inactive until activated by high temperatures. When the cellulous part of the corn, like stalk, is subjected to the high temperatures, it might change the cellulous to starch. This would avoid the added cost of creating the enzyme separately. Researchers at the University of Rochester are as well studying how bacteria select an enzyme, or enzymes, to break a specific kind of plant or other bio mass. They expect to make enzymes, which could change cellulous to ethanol in one step, other than the two steps used by the accessible processes. The advantage of cars that could be filled up with either fuel or ethanol has been verified in Brazil, they use much of its sugar cane crop to make ethanol. Using nanotechnology /genetic engineering to make ethanol from cellulous has the latent to make a serious dent in our use of crude oil. However we do require keeping an eye on some safety issues.

NANOTECHNOLOGY AS CAREER It is a powerful profession which aids the development of products with futuristic performance. All field sectors of life will be effected by this new area. The two field categories of Nanotechnology are Nanoscale profession and Molecular manufacturing. Nanoscale profession covers small structures and crapper be used for introducing stronger materials, meliorate medicines, faster computers and so on. Molecular manufacturing is an attempt at building mechanical and chemical manufacturing systems that join molecules together.

Nanotechnology - the science of the miniature, and the profession of the future - is one of the most exciting and wide area of research which may lead to the greatest technological advances of the 21st century. It is a global phenomenon and an adorning field, which finds its way into a myriad of industrial applications spanning across all areas of science and technology. A form of molecular engineering, it is the profession associated with the creation and scrutiny of minute objects, measuring between 1 to 100 nanometers. Nanotechnology can be defined as the application of science, engineering and technology to develop novel materials and devices in different fields in the nano-range. 'Nano' in Greek means dwarf. Nanometer (nm) is a organization of measurement used to measure rattling small particles like atoms and molecules. One nanometer is equal to one-billionth (10-9) of a meter. Entirely different from magnitude material, nano-materials are 5,000 to 50,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. These light but strong, transparent materials are rattling active and aggressive in some chemical reaction. Nano-materials crapper is mixed with brawny or weak materials to make them thousand times stronger and more efficient. Carbon and diamond are super examples of nano-materials. The concept of Nanotechnology originated in 1959 and was founded by the American physicist Richard P Feynman. But the term 'Nanotechnology' was first used in 1974 by Japanese scientist Prof. Norio Taniguchi at the Tokyo Science University. However it was introduced to the world in 1986 by K. Eric Drexler, an American Engineer and the founder of Foresight Nanotech Institute. Nanotechnology is a unique and special branch of science that essentially combines physics, chemistry, biology, engineering etc. Sometimes known as molecular manufacturing, it deals with the organization and manufacture of extremely small electronic circuits and mechanical devices built at the molecular level of matter. The application of Nanotechnology will open new avenues of research in the world of science and engineering in almost every field,from medicine to fabrics. Due to this, the relatively new earth is fast emerging as the favorite of all kinds of technological arena and will be one of the most significant enabling technologies in the future. Even though the earth is popular abroad, it is quite recently that Indian industries have started realizing the commercial viability of Nanotechnology. In India, Nanotechnology is at its infancy stage and is targeted towards the main streams like electronics, aid markets, and other industrial products. Many scientific institutions have been doing Research and Development (R&D) in this field. The scope and application of Nanotechnology is tremendous and mind-boggling and it is one of the hottest career options available to Indian Engineering graduates. It is an apt career for those who have a scientific bent of mind and a passion for solving mysteries of the minutest molecules. Students with a science and engineering background and even mathematics with physics background can pursue Nanotechnology as a career. Candidates with M.Tech in Nanotechnology are in great demand both in India and abroad.

NANOTECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTER People show their emotions in many diverse and specialized ways, some of which a computer can be programmed to detect. By employing nanotechnology, a camera and image analysis software, some computers are able to observe a user's body language and, with proper programming can accurately interpret a person's posture, restlessness and various facial expressions like grimacing, smiling or scowling. Nanotechnology advances provide on board sensors which can monitor heartbeats, breathing rates, fluctuations in blood pressure, and other subtle body changes such as skin temperature and voice inflection. Because human skin has the capability of transmitting electric signals which can be utilized as a method of transmission, nanotechnology researchers have already been able to develop computers that are designed with nano sensors that have the uncanny ability to actually 'see' and 'hear' the people using them. Inevitably it is only a matter of time until the technology is available to create a computer that can readily identify whether their users are in high spirits or in a bad mood. With ever advancing nanotechnology equipped computers, scientists figure it is entirely possible to develop a computer that is able to interpret a user's mood via input it receives based on body language, voice tone and facial expressions and that it will be programmed to adjust itself by providing images designed to provide a feeling of comfort and serenity. Since emotions are ambiguous, transient and ultimately difficult to interpret, it would be very difficult for a computer to accurately construe the many human mood variances, regardless of how advanced the nanotechnology utilized. Therefore, in order to operate with any modicum of precision, a user would have to input the required data in advance. Nanotechnology, with its sensor based abilities, gives programmers little problem with 'intelligence' based activities such as diagnosing a medical condition or participating in a game of chess, yet even with the major advancements in nanotechnology in recent years it is still some what of a challenge to design computers that accurately simulate human sight, audio functions, language interpretation and/or motor control. Human vision and other sensory perceptions have evolved over billions of years and the how and why of their operations are still difficult to understand and/or simulate, while things like mathematics are explicitly taught and are, therefore, easier to express in a computer program. Programmers are also attempting to employ nanotechnology advancements into programs that they expect to be able to accurately determine a person's innate wishes regarding resuscitation should they fall ill and not be able to make that decision for themselves. Although, theoretically this information would be beneficial to medical teams, caution should be exercised whenever we allow a machine to determine matters relative to ethics. Regardless of the technology involved, machines are not equipped to differentiate between what is intrinsically right or wrong.

NANOTECHNOLOGY AND REVENUE Nanotechnology revenues are estimated to reach $1 Trillion worldwide by 2015. Nanotechnology is often considered as a new revolution, as was the industrial revolution, because nanotechnology manipulates matter at the atomic scale to create new applications in materials, medicine, robotics, electronics and energy.

But what really is Nanotechnology? Nanotechnology is a field of applied science and technology which gives us the ability to build up things starting from the scale of an individual atom. This means the ability to manipulate materials so tiny that nothing can be built any smaller. Twenty year ago you could not have imagined the entire Encyclopedia being stored in a single memory stick, and today, can you imagine the same stored in a chip the size of a dust particle? When you divide one meter by one billion, you get one nano. If you split bacteria into 200 equal parts, then one part equals one nanometer. This is the atom scale of the nanotechnology. When things are built at such a scale you get precision, strength, unique colors and a feel of creation rather than built. The idea of nanotechnology was started in 1959 by a physicist Richard Feynman at American Physical Society meeting at Caltech.

There is still a long way to go to handle materials on a nano scale. Many scientists believe that within the next twenty year we will achieve a lot in this field. During that time we will have to establish techniques to move single atoms using nano robots machines operating at nanoscale and build large-scale structures. Like the invention of the wheel, there will be nano gears, bearings, motors, nano compiler, and nano multipliers and so on and so forth. About twenty years ago, IBM were able to position 35 xenon atoms on the surface of a nickel crystal using atomic force microscopy instrument which spelled out the word IBM. Since then, modern use has been in the manufacture of polymers based on molecular structure and design of surface science computer chip layouts. Commercially, nanotechnology is being applied in bulk nano-particles in manufacture of stain resistant clothing, protective coatings, sun ban lotions, disinfectants, fuel catalysts and cosmetics.

As we stand now, nanotechnology is the new frontier and its potential impact is compelling. Huge amounts of funding are being spent by governments towards nanotechnology research and development. Like before, the main beneficially of such funding is Defense. New nanotech weapons and lightweight bullet-proof nanotech clothing are soon coming up. Once through with military superiority, then the nanotechnology will be released proper to the private sector. Here, there will be better uses that will include provision of clean water, greater agricultural production, cheap energy, clean environment, better diagnostics, drugs and organs replacements, greater information processing and storage, and reduced labor. When that time comes, you will be able to replace your car with an inexpensive nanotech car. A nanotech car will look like a creation of God or that has come from outer space.

With all the sweet promises that Nanotechnology has, including the potential to have positive effects on the environment, environmental and health risks will be the biggest challenges. These nano particles have very great surface area to volume ratio, and therefore toxic due to their high chemical reactivity and biological activity -- they can easily penetrate human skins and get entry to organs and tissues such as the kidneys, brain, spleen, heart, liver, and nervous system. And that coupled with the fact that these nanomaterials has a huge potential to cause DNA mutation, then, it is just a matter of time before opposing groups find the right opportunity to strike in saying no to the entire nanotechnology. And to the shrewd businessman and woman, you can only gamble in being ahead of everyone else in nanotechnology opportunities that are promising heaven.

NANOTECHNOLOGY - SOCIAL AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS Nanotechnology, referred to commonly as molecular manufacturing, is making huge strides within scientific and government communities. Too little emphasis has been placed on the ethical considerations of nanotechnology and the ever-rippling effects of its applications. The control of molecular matter has led to amazing breakthroughs in medical treatments, which of course is a benefit to mankind. However, the military is hard at work creating powerful weapons that are no larger than any known bacteria. In addition, molecular level surveillance techniques for surreptitiously keeping track of other organizations and individuals are changing the face of military, law enforcement and humankind in general. Just like with human genome capability and stem cell research breakthroughs, scientists, governments and individuals need to weigh the obvious advantages of nanotechnology against the residual disadvantages. Although the power of nanotechnology is indisputable, the possibilities of irreversible harm from its indiscriminate use must also be taken into consideration.

What are the Social and Ethical Implications of Nanotechnology?

This is where social and ethical dilemmas present themselves. As lifesaving tools, nanotechnology is unsurpassed in its promise of an absolute revolution for medical treatment of previously incurable or untreatable conditions. Conversely, when this technology is used to manufacture miniature weapons or explosives the infinite possibilities of far-reaching repercussions is a very real prospect. Given that researchers fear that nano-machines can become self replicating, theories abound that their by-product, known in scientific circles as “the gray-goo scenario”, could result in unheard of havoc. In addition nanotechnology has the potential to erode our privacy and freedom by providing human rights violations via monitoring and tracking devices that can invade our everyday lives without our knowledge. For this reason the social and ethical issues relevant to nanotechnology must be addressed before its many technological innovations are unleashed upon society. Every action has a reaction and nanotechnology is no different. Whether the anticipated power of nanotechnology ever reaches fruition, as a society we must be prepared to deal with any fallout that may arise from its inception and universal acceptance. There is no doubt that development of nanotechnology and its many proven advantages, is going to continue, yet as a responsible society we must prepare a social policy that will address the benefits in correlation with the ethical consequences of it effect on life as we know it. Why should society be concerned with the Fallout? When trying to incorporate nano-technological advances into society, there are a myriad of items that require intensive study, such issues regarding equity of disbursement, privacy rights of individuals and/or corporations, security considerations, the effect on the environment and the social and ethical impact on the human race. As responsible humans who are concerned with passing a legacy of improvement down to upcoming generations, it is essential that we develop and create guidelines and working hypotheses that address the far reaching impact that nanotechnology can have on human lives and on the universe itself.

DANGERS OF NANOPARTICLES (Natural News) Researchers in Finland and the US studied how certain nanoparticles interact with cells. Results indicated that nanoparticles may alter cell structure, causing the cells to die. Currently, nanoparticles are widely used in cosmetics, electronics, optical devices, medicine, and in food packaging materials. Nanoparticles may well be the asbestos of the twenty first century: a considerable threat to people’s health. Nanotubes were discovered accidentally in 2000 at Heidelberg University, in Germany. By nature they seem to be a means of cell to cell communication. They exist for very short periods of time, then vanish as the cells no longer need them. Nanoparticles (also known as nanopowders, nanoclusters, nanotubes, or nanocrystals) are microscopic. They measure less than 100 nanometers in at least one dimension. A nanometer equals one billionth of a meter– one millionth of a millimeter. Although we are used to substances having particular properties, those properties often change as the particle size approaches the nano level. Theories suggest that the change in properties is related to the percentage of atoms at the surface of the substance. These different properties are fascinating to scientists. Not all changes are beneficial. For instance, iron, at the nano level, switches its polarity using energy gained from room temperature heat, thus they are not useful for data storage, as had been hoped. Some nanoparticles crystalline structure changes when they get wet. So, numerous questions have been raised about their safety and suitability, especially for products destined for human contact. Scientists found ways to manufacture stable nano-sized particles in various form. Given the transient nature of the body's own nanotubes, the very stability of the synthetic particles may pose a threat. A great deal of research looks into finding useful purposes for man made nanoparticles. However, very little is known of their health effects, especially their down side. Only a tiny allotment of research into nanoparticles focuses on their risks to health and safety. While the use of nanoparticles in consumer products increases, follow-up procedures and legislation lag behind. The European Union chemicals directive REACH does not even touch upon nanomaterials. Research, presented in the nano journal `Small`, showed that cell cultures(colonies of a particular type of cell growing in a dish) are unaltered when exposed to fullerenes. The same cells do not react when exposed to Gallic acid, an astringent component of tannins found in almost all plants. When present in the cell culture at the same time, however, fullerenes and gallic acid interact to form structures which bind to the cell's surface causing cell death. The study did not focus on cancer cells. Fullerenes are spherical, ellipsoid, or cylindrical nano-sized molecules of carbon atoms. They were named after Buckminster Fuller, creator of the geodesic dome. Fullerenes are produced by producing an electrical arc through a vessel containing helium gas between two graphite rods. Ten percent of the resulting soot is these nanoparticles. The fullerene tubes and balls are extracted from the carbon soot by using an organic solvent called toluene. The U.S. Department of Energy is looking into using these fullerenes in the future. This study is one of the few cataloging the effects of these particles in the human body. Researchers generated excitement in 2006, when the destructive nature of certain nanoparticles were found to destroy the cell membranes of cancer cells. In the culture used in the early experiments, healthy cells were effected, but less so than cancer cells. The researchers, in their excitement, suggested that these nanoparticles be used to enclose chemotherapy agents, thus target the cancer cells more directly. The early study, however, only surveyed the nanoparticles in isolation, without the toxic chemicals enclosed in them. The current study casts a shadow on such use of nanoparticles. This study stands out in its investigation into nanoparticles unforeseen interactions with other substances. Combining these particles which do not behave as we expect with the already dismal failure of chemotherapy seems like a recipe for disaster. The interaction of the man made nanoparticles with enclosed dangerous chemicals, not to mention with substances in the body's environment, may present unexpected and fatal results. The current research demonstrates how difficult it is to map out the health effects of nanoparticles. Since the number of possible combinations of nanoparticles and various biomolecules is immense, it is practically impossible to research them systematically. Even if a certain nanoparticle does not appear toxic, the interaction between this nanoparticle and other compounds in the human body may cause serious problems to cell functions. Further, combining nanoparticles with toxic substances poses even more serious questions. This is yet another reason why consumers need to demand natural, organically grown ingredients in products.