Good Things in Small Packages
A nanometre is one billionth of a metre – or, in terms simpler to visualize, the difference between a soccer ball and the planet Earth! And the big buzz in science right now is nanotechnology; harnessing the benefits of these microscopic particles for practical usage.
Nanotechnology has already lead to a host of practical applications for consumers, like the incredibly small particles of zinc or titanium oxide found in sun screen lotions, nano-coated lenses which render them scratch resistant, as well as fabrics and paints which guard against staining.
The technology has been used for over a decade now on hybrid polymer dental fillings – the ones which are hardened by light, are stronger than steel yet lighter than aluminum.
It works because the nano-world follows different rules to the macro-world; well known materials change colour or assume new melting points and certain metals become semi-conductors - to name just a few nano-alter egos.
But scientists are beginning to realise current applications are just the nano tip of the iceberg. Indeed, billions of dollars are being invested by companies worldwide to develop nanotechnology, and a vast array of possibilities is beginning to emerge. Imagine cars which can change colour by flicking a switch, or anti-cancer treatments which target tumors with nano-point accuracy and potentially do away with chemotherapy. Who’d have thought – the next big thing in science could be so infinitesimally small!