How has nanoscience affected the human experience?

Nanotechnology was informally
invented by Richard Feynman in a talk given in 1959. The concept of manipulating
individual atoms was, at the time, almost inconceivable, but became prevalent in
science-fiction writing and so slowly entered public
consciousness.

Professor Norio Taniguchi formally defined
it in 1974:

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'Nano-technology' mainly consists of the
processing of, separation, consolidation, and deformation of materials by one atom or by
one molecule.

Today, with
electron microscopes and micro-manipulation far advanced, certain actions are possible
while others are not. Many commercially available products that advertise nanotechnology
are merely existing technology with a buzzword attached. In public discussion,
Carbon Nanotubes are often mentioned as a solution for virtually
any problem without any understanding of what they are or how to apply them. At the
moment, nanotechnology is limited to very slow manipulation of materials. Molecular
machines are still in the future.

There is also the danger
of Gray Goo, a theory proposed by Eric Drexler; the theory states
that a group of self-replicating molecular machines will continue to replicate with the
Earth's mass until there is no life left. This theory is largely unproven but popular in
science-fiction.

A much greater issue is the damage
nanoparticles can cause in human tissue simply by being inhaled. Like asbestos, carbon
nanotubes in the lungs could cause
mesothelioma.

On the other hand,
nanotechnology has been used with great success in the medical field to selectively
deliver drugs without danger of overdose. Carbon nanotubes are also being used to
develop high-density computer storage systems, and nanoparticles are used extensively in
commercial coatings to improve surface smoothness by filling in the spaces too small to
detect with the eye.

Aside from the scare reports, which
sell papers, nanotechnology as a science is still in its infancy. Its impact on public
culture, at the moment, is mostly limited to theorizing and accidental misinformation.
Future impact will depend on cost-effective methods and safety issues. Advances in
medical science will likely precede other areas, leading to new treatment methods and,
hopefully, cures for cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and any number of other
fatal diseases.