Depiction of a carbon nanotube. Source: Wikimedia
Research in nanotechnology may have an important positive impact on the world. For instance, inventors have developed ways to control very small volumes of water to create low-cost scientific instruments for the developing world. But at the same time, nanotechnology carries risks. Cheap scientific tools could be used by terrorist groups. Militaries could develop destabilizing stealth technology. While there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic about the future of nanotechnology, policymakers should also consider its risks.
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