| Today we're going to look at an important area of science, namely nanotechnology. |
| So what is it? |
| Nano means tiny, |
| so it's science and engineering on the scale of atoms and molecules. |
| The idea is that by controlling and rearranging atoms, you can literally create anything. |
| However, as we'll see, the science of the small has some big implications affecting us in many ways. |
| There's no doubt that nanotechnology promises so much for civilisation. |
| However, all new technologies have their teething problems. |
| And with nanotechnology, society often gets the wrong idea about its capabilities. |
| Numerous science-fiction books and movies have raised people's fears about nanotechnology - |
| with scenarios such as inserting little nano-robots into your body that monitor everything you do without you realising it, |
| or self-replicating nano-robots that eventually take over the world. |
| So how do we safeguard such a potentially powerful technology? |
| Some scientists recommend that nano-particles be treated as new chemicals with separate safety tests and clear labelling. |
| They believe that greater care should also be taken with nano-particles in laboratories and factories. |
| Others have called for a withdrawal of new nano products such as cosmetics |
| and a temporary halt to many kinds of nanotech research. |
| But as far as I'm concerned there's a need to plough ahead with the discoveries and applications of nanotechnology. |
| I really believe that most scientists would welcome a way to guard against unethical uses of such technology. |
| We can't go around thinking that all innovation is bad, all advancement is bad. |
| As with the debate about any new technology, it is how you use it that's important. |
| So let's look at some of its possible uses. |
| Thanks to nanotechnology, there could be a major breakthrough in the field of transportation |
| with the production of more durable metals. |
| These could be virtually unbreakable, lighter and much more pliable |
| leading to planes that are 50 times lighter than at present. |
| Those same improved capabilities will dramatically reduce the cost of travelling into space |
| making it more accessible to ordinary people and opening up a totally new holiday destination. |
| In terms of technology, the computer industry will be able to shrink computer parts down to minute sizes. |
| We need nanotechnology in order to create a new generation of computers |
| that will work even faster and will have a million times more memory |
| but will be about the size of a sugar cube. |
| Nanotechnology could also revolutionise the way that we generate power. |
| The cost of solar cells will be drastically reduced |
| so harnessing this energy will be far more economical than at present. |
| But nanotechnology has much wider applications than this |
| and could have an enormous impact on our environment. |
| For instance, tiny airborne nano-robots could be programmed to actually rebuild the ozone layer, |
| which could lessen the impact of global warming on our planet. |
| That's a pretty amazing thought, isn't it? |
| On a more local scale, |
| this new technology could help with the clean-up of environmental disasters |
| as nanotechnology will allow us to remove oil and other contaminants from the water far more effectively. |
| And, if nanotechnology progresses as expected - |
| as a sort of building block set of about 90 atoms - |
| then you could build anything you wanted from the bottom up. |
| In terms of production, this means that you only use what you need |
| and so there wouldn't be any waste. |
| The notion that you could create anything at all has major implications for our health. |
| It means that we'll eventually be able to replicate anything. |
| This would have a phenomenal effect on our society. |
| In time it could even lead to the eradication of famine |
| through the introduction of machines that produce food to feed the hungry. |
| But it's in the area of medicine that nanotechnology may have its biggest impact. |
| How we detect disease will change as tiny biosensors are developed to analyse tests in minutes rather than days. |
| There's even speculation nano-robots could be used to slow the ageing process, lengthening life expectancy. |
| As you can see, I'm very excited by the implications that could be available to us in the next few decades. |
| Just how long it'll take, I honestly don't know. |