Nanotechnology and Its Impacts on Life - Term Paper Example

? Na chnology and Its Impacts on Life Number ENGL 203 Introduction Na chnology that involves manufacturing of machines from small-scale molecules measuring billionth of a meter is advancing and likely to shape the future of the whole world. The concepts of nanotechnology have seen production of many efficient materials that bring huge economic, environmental and sociological importance. Over long time, there has been intensive research to develop techniques to solve various problems as well as improve the living conditions of human beings. Nanotechnology has been an important outcome of the researches that has proved significant potential to solve various problems and improve life. As an on-going research, nanotechnology has resulted to notable impacts on life that exhibits in the fields of environmental conservation, economic development and health care sector. Despite the immeasurable ability to transform human life, some scientists warn that failure to impose strict regulation can allow misuse of the technology to lead to serious problems in the future. Impacts of Nanotechnology on Environmental Conservation Nanotechnology poses both positive and negative implications on the environment where life is abundant. To begin with, the technology has great potential of leading to improved techniques of environmental conservation such as efficient methods of purifying water and cleansing of air, reducing the use of pesticides and advent of green packaging (Karkare, 2010). Nanotechnology has seen a section of scientists focus on researches and tests to develop nanosensors that are capable of detecting, preventing and removing pollutants found in the air. Scientists have also proved that nanotechnology has the ability of guiding through the design of structures and machines capable of filtering smokes and industrial exhausts to ensure that only clean and safe air escapes into the atmosphere. For instance, scientists have used nanocomposites of silica and tatania to remove elementary mercury vapor as an alternative to conventional activated carbon injection (Karkare, 2010). In addition, scientists have used nanostructured silica to capture cadmium from an exhaust combustion environment. The additional environmental impact of nanotechnology relates to the ability of engineers to use the technology to purify water. This has been possible through the combined use of nanoporous ceramics and self assembled monolayers of functional groups to remove heavy metals from wastewaters. Scientists continually express fears that failure by the global community to establish appropriate laws to govern the development and use of nanotechnology can expose the world to unpredictable dangers. To begin with, scientists and companies that have invested in nanotechnology are competing to use the technology to produce self-replicating robots and organs. If uncontrolled, the competing parties can manipulate nanotechnology and produce creatures and features that are dangerous to life and hard to control (Patra, 2011). Another fear relates to the increasing application of nanotechnology in the field of war and military. Even though nanotechnology has enabled production of very destructive nuclear weapons that are good for defense of any country, the weapons may be subject to misuse. This can cause serious environmental effects to the whole if not a small part of the world (Karkare, 2010). Impacts of Nanotechnology on Technological Science As part of technology, structural engineers have grappled with the problem of structural failures due to weakening of steels when subjected to repeated conditions of stress. As demonstrated by Prashant, Nirangan, Shripal and Krishna (2013), continued research on nanotechnology has proved the possibility of producing strong steels that are capable of withstanding various degrees of stresses. An example of such advancement has manifested through the production of steel cables that have proved effective when used in the construction of bridges. Prashant, Nirangan, Shripal and Krishna (2013) reiterate that teel cables have effectively reduced cost and time used in manufacturing suspension bridges considering the ease of running the strong cables to connect two ends of a bridge. The impact of nanotechnology on life has also manifested through production of electronic devices and components that have led to reduced wastage of energy. One such advancement is the manufacturing of tough and scratch resistant plastic bumpers for vehicles (Lopez, 2013). This technology has led to significant reduction of weight of vehicles, which have consequently enhanced speed and performance as well as fuel consumption by vehicles. Through nanotechnology, scientists have been able device systems that enable manufacturing of light body parts of spacecrafts and airplanes. This has effectively reduced the amount of fuel used in flying the equipments as well as enhancing their speed (Patra, 2011). In the field of electronics, nanotechnology has proved effective through the advent of low energy light emitting diodes that also produce a lot of light. Moreover, nanotechnology has seen scientists develop very efficient and convenient solar cells that have several semiconductors stacked together to absorb light energy at different intensities (Ludhiyani, Pathak & Joshi, 2011). The concepts of nanotechnology has also enabled scientists to manufacture fridges and food packaging that are resistant to bacteria and capable of improving shelf life of food materials (Ludhiyani, Pathak & Joshi, 2011). This is perceivable as important step towards eradicating diseases related to food contamination as well as reducing food wastage. Reduction in wastage of food materials has the potential of improving global food security and even enabling countries and households save significant money that is usable in other developmental programs. Furthermore, nanotechnology has enabled scientists in manufacture scratch and UV resistant sunglasses (Lopez, 2013). This has been important in eliminating eye related defects. Moreover, it is through the concepts of nanotechnology that scientist discovered the possibility to manufacture self-cleaning window glasses by coating the normal glasses with titanium dioxide. Impacts of Nanotechnology in Health Science Health practitioners and scientists have encountered serious challenges in bid to find convenient ways to diagnose and treat certain types of diseases like cancer, lymphoma, and brain tumors among other hard diseases. It has also been challenging to the health practitioners to find more convenient and efficient techniques to generate or find organs for transplantation as in the cases of spoiled lungs, heart, brain, amputated body organs among other cases demanding organ replacement. However, the advent and continued research on nanotechnology have proved reliable potential to solve and overcome even the most challenging health conditions. One of such innovations arising from effective research on nanotechnology is the nanobiotech. Nanobiotech involves engineering process of producing microchips coated with molecules of human body (Prashant, Nirangan, Shripal and Krishna, 2013). The design of the microchip is such that it is able to emit electrical impulse when the coated molecules detect any signs of a disease. This technology has proved very effective in the diagnosis and detection of hard diseases like cancer that take longer before showing known symptoms. According to Prashant, Nirangan, Shripal and Krishna (2013), the nanobots that are also products of nanobiotech are special sensors that when inserted into the blood stream below the skin are capable of checking contents of blood and warn about any disease. It is because of such ability that nanobots have gained great use in the monitoring of blood sugar levels (Prashant, Nirangan, Shripal and Krishna, 2013). With the concepts of nanotechnology, scientists working at U.C in San Diego have managed to design fluorescent nanoparticle that eases imaging and photography of the interior organs of human body. This makes it easy for health practitioners perform effective diagnosis and analysis of the interior body organs without errors and damage to other organs. Another positive development brought by nanotechnology in health care is the quantum dot. Prashant, Nirangan, Shripal and Krishna (2013) define quantum dots as nonmaterials that are capable of glowing brightly upon illumination by ultraviolet light. Lopez (2013) adds that it is possible to coat the quantum dots with materials that enable them attach only to the molecules targeted for diagnosis. This property makes quantum dots gain more use in the diagnosis of cancer where the dots bind only to the proteins that are unique top cancerous cells. In such cases, the quantum dots literally bring the tumors to light to enable easy visibility and detection (Lopez, 2013). Effectiveness of nanotechnology is also making it easy for scientists treat cancer through safe means rather than through the dangerous chemotherapy. With nanotechnology, scientists have been able to device nanobots that are capable to delivering a given drug to the specific sick cell. This method has proved effective and practical in the treatment of cancer considering the ease of targeting drug to a given location of an affected cell with reduced side effects on the body. References Karkare, M. (2010). Nanotechnology: Fundamentals and applications. New Delhi: I. K. International Publishing House Pvt. Lopez, R. (2013). Applications and issues in the fields of nanotechnology, information technology, neurotechnology, and biotechnology. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 4(8). Ludhiyani, A., Pathak, R., & Joshi, S. (2011). Business implications of recent developments in nanotechnology for micro scale devices. Intelektine Ekonomika, (1) Patra, D. (2011). Responsible development of nanoscience and nanotechnology: Contextualizing socio-technical integration into the nanofabrication laboratories in the USA. Nanoethics, 5(2), 143-157. Prashant, E. R., Nirangan, C.A., Shripal, M.C. & Krishna, M.S. (2013). Nanotechnology: Needs and Applications. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, 20(1). Read More