By Rachel Dunlop

Nanotechnology was first discovered in approximately Discovering, - Examining and - Manipulating objects at a small scale. (Nanotechnology: Big things from a tiny world)

A nanometer is one millionth of millimeter. Nanotechnology is an extremely small scale of measurement. That helps scientists to measure. When comparing the nanotechnology scale; -Paper is approximately 100,000 nanometers thick. -Blonde hair is 15,000 – 50,000 nanometers thick -Brown and black hair is 50,000 – 180,000 nanometers thick. (Nanotechnology: Big things from a tiny world, n.d.)

Areas in which Nanotechnology has been used is; -Biomedical science- to help diagnose and treat disease, - Improving of products, - Reducing the effects of global warming Products influenced by Nanotechnology include; -Sunscreens, - Scratch- resistant surfaces, - LCD Screens, - Wrinkle fee fabrics (Bonsor & Strickland, n.d.) (Nanotechnology: Big things from a tiny world, n.d.)

Sunscreens; Nano-sized particles of zinc- oxide and titanium oxide. Previously traditional sunscreens were chalky and greasy on the skins surface. To customers this is an undesirable appearance which caused it to not be used. (Bonsor & Strickland, n.d.)

Other products created through Nanotechnology; - Batteries; -Cosmetics; - Scratch and glare resistant coatings (Nanotechnology: Big things from a tiny world, n.d.)

Scientists have found a way to reduce the effects of global warming through the science of Nanotechnology. Global warming is the destruction of the ozone layer which causes the earths temperature to increase.

In power stations, CO2 emissions are constantly being released into the atmosphere. The CO2 is trapped in a scientist manufactured membranes. Once captured it is then stored in permeable rock under the ground. There is no possible way for the CO2 to contaminate the atmosphere when it is under the ground.

Another way in which scientists are helping reduce the effects of global warming; is by reducing the number of Chlorine ions in the atmosphere. Scientists have designed small grain sized balloons, light enough to travel up into the atmosphere. The balloons then fall back to the earths surface, leaving the stratosphere free and to stop the ozone layer from being destroyed.

Nanotechnology has some negative effects. The nano-particles are so small, that they have the potential to cross the blood- brain barrier. The blood brain barrier protects the brain from the harmful chemicals in the blood stream. (Bonsor & Strickland, n.d.)

Neurotoxicity is a result if these particles cross the barrier. Nanoparticles are ROS, which means they are reactive- oxygen- species. - damage cells within the body. (Nasir, Wang & Freidman, 2011).

Many beneficial effects. -helps with global warming, - creating new and improved products. Some negative effects. - Health concerns. Many products have been changed through the science of Nanotechnology and many new products have been created and improved. With many more expected in the future.

Nasir, A., Wang, S. & Friedman, A. (2011). The emerging role of Nanotechnology in sunscreens: An update. Expert Reveiw. 6(5), 437–439. Bonsor, K. & Strickland, J. (n.d.). How Nanotechnology works. Retrieved from the How stuff works website. chnology.htm Nanotechnology: Big things from a tiny world. (n.d.). Retrieved from; /nanotechnology_bigthingsfromatinyworld-print.pdf