IS NANOTECHNOLOGY a word that strikes fear into your heart? After 2003, you could almost be forgiven for quaking in terror. Nanobots and nanoparticles took over the papers in a spate of scare stories that even caught the attention of Prince Charles, heir to the British throne.
快猫短视频 sent me to investigate the source of the stories. I would like to report that I infiltrated a secret meeting of activists in Brussels. But the truth is they invited me. In June the Canadian environmental group ETC, which was spearheading the anti-nanotech movement, ran a conference at the European Parliament. I joined the audience of activists, ethicists and the occasional alarmed scientist.
ETC was, and still is, calling for a complete ban on nanotech and a moratorium on all related laboratory research. The academics that I spoke to were perplexed and frustrated. Banning the whole of nanotech is ridiculous, they say, for it is not one technology but many. A quick review of the nanotech stories in 快猫短视频 this year makes that point. We reported on fuel additives, coatings for medical implants, computer memory, drug-delivery systems鈥� all they have in common is the scale of their components 鈥� nanometres, or billionths of a metre.
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It became clear at the conference that ETC was picking on nanotech not because of any individual application, but because it is hyped as the 鈥渘ext big thing鈥�. Their concerns relate more to world order than to the safety of the science.
Nanotech has been noticed by governments worldwide. This year the US set aside billions of dollars for nanotech, while Japan and Europe are also big spenders. ETC wants to know if this money is being spent wisely. Will it widen the gap between western and developing countries? Will it give the military a new and frightening arsenal? The scare stories are their way of attracting attention to the bigger issues.
ETC certainly attracted headlines when it advised against using sunscreens that contain nanoparticles. Tiny spheres of titanium dioxide turn out to be good at blocking UV, but they might not be good for your health, ETC warned. I was surprised, however, to learn that it had not contacted the manufacturer of the sunscreens in question, L鈥橭r茅al in Paris. I since have, and the company sent me a raft of papers reporting research into the particles鈥� safety.
Some nanoparticles may be hazardous to health. 快猫短视频 reported that carbon nanotubes, appear to cause scarring in the lungs of mice. But other work has showed that semiconductor nanoparticles prolong the life of brain cells in a Petri dish. What is important is that scientists tread with caution and test the materials they make.
ETC also draws parallels between nanotech and biotech, with talk of 鈥渁tomically modified organisms鈥�. Later, speaking to an anti-GM activist, I realised who these comments were intended to inflame: ETC is hijacking anti-GM feelings in the service of this new cause.
I left Brussels sharing some of ETC鈥檚 concerns about whether nanotech will be a force for good in the world. But scare-mongering and ill-informed campaigning undermine the debate.