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Today we’re going to look at an important
area of science, namely nanotechnology.
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So what is it?
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Nano means tiny, so it’s science and engineering
on the scale of atoms and molecules.
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The idea is that by controlling and rearranging
atoms, you can literally create anything.
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However, as we’ll see, the science of the
small has some big implications affecting
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us in many ways.
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There’s no doubt that nanotechnology promises
so much for civilisation.
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However, all new technologies have their teething
problems.
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And [question1]with nanotechnology, society
often gets the wrong idea about its capabilities.
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Numerous science-fiction books and movies
have raised people's fears about nanotechnology
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- with scenarios such as inserting little
nano-robots into your body that monitor everything
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you do without you realising it, or self-replicating
nano-robots that eventually take over the
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world.
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So how do we safeguard such a potentially
powerful technology?
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[question2]Some scientists recommend that
nano-particles be treated as new chemicals
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with separate safety tests and clear labelling.
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They believe that greater care should also
be taken with nano-particles in laboratories
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and factories.
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Others have called for a withdrawal of new
nano products such as cosmetics and a temporary
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halt to many kinds of nanotech research.
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[question3]But as far as I’m concerned there's
a need to plough ahead with the discoveries
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and applications of nanotechnology.
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I really believe that most scientists would
welcome a way to guard against unethical uses
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of such technology.
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We can’t go around thinking that all innovation
is bad, all advancement is bad.
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As with the debate about any new technology,
it is how you use it that’s important.
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So let’s look at some of its possible uses.
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Thanks to nanotechnology, there could be a
major breakthrough in the field of transportation[question4]with
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the production of more durable metals.
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These could be virtually unbreakable, lighter
and much more pliable leading to planes that
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are 50 times lighter than at present.
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Those same improved capabilities will [question5]dramatically
reduce the cost of travelling into space making
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it more accessible to ordinary people and
opening up a totally new holiday destination.
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In terms of technology, the computer industry
will be able to shrink computer parts down
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to minute sizes.
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We need nanotechnology in order to [question6]create
a new generation of computers that will work
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even faster and will have a million times
more memory but will be about the size of
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a sugar cube.
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Nanotechnology could also revolutionise the
way that we generate power.
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[question7]The cost of solar cells will be
drastically reduced so harnessing this energy
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will be far more economical than at present.
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But nanotechnology has much wider applications
than this and could have an enormous impact
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on our environment.
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For instance, tiny airborne nano-robots could
be programmed to actually rebuild the ozone
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layer, which could lessen the impact of global
warming on our planet.
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That’s a pretty amazing thought, isn’t
it?
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On a more local scale, this new technology
could help with the clean-up of environmental
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disasters [question8]as nanotechnology will
allow us to remove oil and other contaminants
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from the water far more effectively.
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And, if nanotechnology progresses as expected
- as a sort of building block set of about
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90 atoms - then you could build anything you
wanted from the bottom up.
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[question9]In terms of production, this means
that you only use what you need and so there
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wouldn't be any waste.
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The notion that you could create anything
at all has major implications for our health.
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It means that we’ll eventually be able to
replicate anything.
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This would have a phenomenal effect on our
society.
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In time it could even lead to the eradication
of famine through the introduction of machines
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that produce food to feed the hungry.
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But it’s in the area of medicine that nanotechnology
may have its biggest impact.
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How we detect disease will change [question10]as
tiny biosensors are developed to analyse tests
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in minutes rather than days.
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There’s even speculation nano-robots could
be used to slow the ageing process, lengthening
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life expectancy.
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As you can see, I’m very excited by the
implications that could be available to us
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in the next few decades.
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Just how long it’ll take, I honestly don't
know.
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
1. The speaker says that one problem with nanotechnology is that
A it could threaten our way of life.
B it could be used to spy on people.
C it is misunderstood by the public.
2. According to the speaker, some scientists believe that nano-particles
A should be restricted to secure environments.
B should be used with more caution.
C should only be developed for essential products.
3. In the speaker's opinion, research into nanotechnology
A has yet to win popular support.
B colild be seen as unethical.
C ought to be continued.
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
Please Submit to view your score, solution and explanations.