Nanotechnology is the growing industry built around the ability to control materials on the nano scale. One nanometer is one billionth of a metre, around 80,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.
Many expect it to bring great advances in medicine, electronics and the IT sectors. But like many new technologies, nanotech is threatened by hype.
The Science Minister, Lord Sainsbury, said:
"Nanotechnology has the potential to create huge benefits in many areas, but we need to understand whether it raises new ethical, health and safety, or social issues which are not covered by current regulations."
He has charged the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering to conduct the independent study to identify applications for nanotech and consider its environmental, health and safety, ethical and social implications, both now and in the future. They must also consider the need for new regulation.
