Nano Nano?

How many of you have heard of nanotechnology? Generally speaking, nanotechnology is the act of purposefully manipulating matter at the atomic scale, otherwise known as the "nanoscale." Coined in 1974 by Norio Taniguchi at the University of Tokyo, nanotechnology is actually a multitude of rapidly emerging technologies, based upon the scaling down of existing technologies to the next level of precision and miniaturization. In the future, it will likely include the building of machines and mechanisms with nanoscale dimensions, referred to as Molecular Nanotechnology (MNT). It uses a basic unit of measure called a "nanometer" (abbreviated nm). Derived from the Greek word for midget, "nano" is a metric prefix and indicates a billionth part (10-⁹). In the case of one meter, you divide it by one thousand and get one millimeter. This you divide by one thousand and the result is one micrometer. And this, you once more divide by one thousand to get one nanometer. Science has already achieved a stage where "tools" are built at molecular size. While this could help creating a cure for say arteriosclerosis, where literally miniature submarines dive through your veins equipped with ultrasonic tools (yep, I'm totally sober) - clever businessmen immediately sensed the opportunity to make money, bigtime. While Chris Phoenix, Director of Research at CRN (Center for Responsible Nanotechnology) has a by all means critical approach regarding the drawbacks of nt ("But it also brings unprecedented risks - massive job displacement causing economic and social disruption, threats to civil liberties from ubiquitous surveillance, and the specter of devastating wars fought with far more powerful weapons of mass destruction."), his boss Mike Treder, Executive Director of CRN, thinks the future's so bright we gotta wear shades: "When nanotech-driven construction becomes able to build complete products, the resulting products will have vastly higher performance than today's versions. Combined with a sharp drop in cost and a substantial decrease in development time, this implies a flood of new and powerful weapons, as well as a flood of sensors, computers, and networks." Note the consecutive order, and read more on the whole subject here.