How can single atoms be manipulated? Are the laws of physics still valid
at the nanostructure scale? How could nanotechnologies help cure
disease? What are the application fields of nanotechnologies and what
ethical issues do they raise? These questions and many others are
answered in this clearly presented, fascinating book.
This updated second edition puts nanotechnologies into perspective by
explaining issues in health, environmental and military application
domains, and discusses the technology in the context of current media
and ethical debates. It also introduces the ambitious, and perhaps
almost utopian, NBIC programme (Nanotechnology, Biotechnology,
Information technology and Cognitive science) - an initiative that
foresees the 'reunification' of science by encouraging collaboration
among specialists of different scientific domains.
Intended for a wide audience, this book will interest teachers and
students of science, as well as those with a general interest in how
modern technologies and the sciences interact.