…. by  Madeleine Love

But is it safe for the children? she cried.

Don’t know… can’t stop industry, old chap.

Can’t bind them up with shackles.

Regulate?  Heresy!

Tantamount to putting the brakes on profits!

It would amount to a trade barrier

Singing…

I read the news today oh boy

It was about nanotechnology

And though the bits were rather small

They had to count them all

State of the World 2006…

“The U.S. government’s National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) has spent over $5 billion on nanotech R&D since 2001, making it the biggest publicly funded science endeavour since the Apollo moon shot.”

“The U.S Department of defense has received a greater share of nanotech R&D funds than any other federal agency.”

“The U.S government’s 2006 nanotech budget requests $38.5 million for environmental, health, and safety research on nano-materials – less than 4 percent of the [NNI’s] total budget.”

Nano-biotechnology:  “Angela Belcher, a material scientist at MIT, has genetically engineered the DNA of viruses, inducing them to grow tiny inorganic wires with magnetic and semiconducting properties that may someday provide circuitry in high-speed electronic components.”

Or not.

“Though nanotechnology is sometimes hyped to the hilt, it is no joke and its societal impacts will indeed be titanic.”

“Journey into the Nano-World”  [Australian Government, CSIRO, AccessNano]

• Anti-odour socks
• UV-blocking invisible sunscreen
• Self-cleaning dog bed
• Anti-fungal gym towel
• Pencils filled with nanocapsules of fragrance that pop as you write, releasing sweet smells
• Ultra-light tennis racquets
• Fridges that fight off bacteria and bad smells
• New ways of saving water
• Enviro-friendly ways of producing energy and power
• Reduce our reliance on raw materials
• Reduce our energy use
• Clean our water supplies
• Computers accessible to more people
• Increase our medical options
• A lot easier to keep your house warm
• No more toxic mercury in lighting systems
• Mind-blowingly powerful computing
• Toxic cleanups
• Medical nano-miracles
• People who find themselves in wheelchairs due to spinal injuries may soon have a good chance of walking again.
• Nano-ships containing cancer-fighting drugs through the bloodstream
• Metal with a memory
• Artificial muscles
• Artificial limbs
• Exoskeletons for astronauts and soldiers
• Robots that can keep going and going… and going.
• Artificial skins for aeroplane wings and wind turbine blades
• What’s for lunch?
• Nutritional additives
• Smart packaging avoid refrigerators

“Be an informed citizen

If you wish to take part in public discussions on nanotechnology, it’s important to be informed.  Understanding the risks and benefits of any technology helps you make better choices about how it may be useful.”

Risks?  Why include such a word in an Australian Office of Nanotechnology document?

Back page, small box:  “In Australia, we have regulations that cover the different uses of nanotechnology to ensure it is safe for humans and the environment.”

All the benefits will be yours, and you don’t need to look into this tricky stuff, because we’ll look after the risks for you.