In general we are not aware of issues that confront us about science, technology and others super complicated specialized fields. The finished product is normally the result of perhaps many years of study, field-laboratory observation and research. Gadgets we religiously use such as digital music players, cameras, mobile phones have not just materialized.
In the case of the Nanotechnology there is a small but powerful empire of scientist focused on the study of a world microscopically dimensioned. Nanotechnology is a multi-disciplinary field of technology and applied science that is solving problems through the knowledge and application of one or more natural scientific fields.
The scale which embraces the Nanotechnology field is the realm of nanostructures and atoms. There are currently some discussions between scientists and experts about the real measurable range or scale of the Nanotechnology. Of what we are completely sure is we can not see it with our human eye but when we talk about nanostructures we commonly refer to a range between is 1 to 100 nanometers.
How can we really appreciate and understand that? Surely we need be more aware about the units of measures involved. For example: a centimeter corresponds to 100 of a meter, a millimeter corresponds to 1000 of a meter and a micrometer corresponds to 1 million of a meter. All of these measures are visibly-huge-enormous compared to the 'nano-scale'. According to the reputable Berkley Lab, a nanometer (nm) is one-billion of a meter. Of course that is completely invisible, smaller than the wavelength of the visible light a 100.000 the width of the human hair.
If we compare the nano-scale (that is the scale used for the nanostructures) and the atomic scales, we have that an atom has a diameter near to 0.1 nm and the nucleus of an atom is evidently so much smaller about 0.00001 nm. All matter in the universe and all is around us is made up of atoms. All inside and outside us is matter and our human bodies are formed from millions of living cells. Though the living cells work like natural nano-machines and in the atomic scale the elements are in a very basic level but in the nano-scale we can join these atoms and make almost everything.
With all this information now we are more conscious about the subject. For some scientist, the Nano-science is a very new science but for others it is just an extension of sciences that currently exists into the nano-scale or just a newer-modern-used-term.
How can Nanotechnology help us in our daily life? For the commoner, the fields of science seem sometimes so theoretical, but there are many applications today that are linked to Nanotechnology. Scientist using nanostructures can reproduce things like gem stones, food and much more by self-replication nano-robots.
A very important field for this new science is health. Nanorobots or Nanomachines which are devices ranging in size from 0.1 to 10 micrometers can be used in medical technology to detect, analyze and identify through nano-sensors cancer cells to then destroy them. They can also help to identify an early diagnosis for cancer. Nanotechnology in the environment can be used to detect and measure the concentration of toxic elements more efficiently.
There are a wide range of applications and uses for Nanotechnology. In the case of food it is used to develop packaging more safely through a nanocomposite which can increase or decrease gas permeability, heat resistance. In the household for example, nanotechnology applications are already responsible for developing devices for self-cleaning windows, dishes, ceramics etc.
Many people experience eye irritation caused by the ultraviolet rays. Thanks to Nanotechnology, advances have been made to produce the first anti-reflective ultrathin polymer sunglasses. In optical surgery, nano-optics increase the precision of pupil repair and other type of surgery using laser technology.
Unquestionably we are now receiving the benefits of the Nanotechnology in many ways. We can improve our knowledge of nanotechnology according to our self interest. In our daily life there are many things we cannot see and touch which are incredibly powerful and extremely significant for the modern world we live today. Nanotechnology is clearly going to play a major role in the future development of many disciplines
No comments:
Post a Comment