What is Nanotechnology: Evolution of Nanotechnology (Essay Sample)

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What is nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology can be defined as the study as well as the use of strictures which are between one nanometer and 100 nanometer in size. Others define nanotechnology as the manipulation of matter mainly which is on an atomic, molecular as well as super molecular scale. Nanotechnology has various potentials of applications in various fields of study. These might include medicine, environmental study energy among others. Due to this fact, many scientists have gained interest in studying the applications of nanotechnology. As described, nanotechnology might be in a better position to create very many new materials (Prasad, 2008). On the other hand, nanotechnology raises a lot of questions as any new technology would do especially on the concerns of toxicity as well as environmental impacts and its potential to affects the global economy. Due to these concerns a lot of debates have been made by different groups as well as government on whether regulations should be applied on nanotechnology or not.
Evolution of nanotechnology
The concept of nanotechnology was first coined in 1959 by Richard Feynman in his talks where he tried to describe the possibility of synthesize through manipulation of a toms. This term was first used by a scientist known as Norio Taniguchi in 1974 though during this period it was not widely known. In 1986 a scientist by the name Drexler got inspired by the work of Feynman. In his book he proposed the idea of Nano scale and other items of complexity of atomic control. In 1986 Drexler with another scientist co-founded an institute which mainly aims at increasing an awareness which aims at increasing awareness of the concept on nanotechnology as well as its implications. As a field of study, the concept of nanotechnology started in 1980s when Drexler developed and popularized a conceptual frame work meant for nanotechnology. The first item to be invented under the understanding of nanotechnology was the scanning tunneling microscope in 1981 which provided unprecedented visualization of atoms at individual levels as well as bonds. This device was successfully used to manipulate individual atoms in the year 1989. The second device was the fullerene which was discovered in 1985 by Harry Kroto, Richard Smaley and Robert Curl. Due to their work, they won a chemistry Nobel price in 1996. In 2000s the field of nanotechnology gathered a lot of scientific, political and commercial attention which led to both its progress as well as a lot of controversies. After this a lot of commercialization of products based on the progress in Nano scale technology begun showing light. In the mid 2000s new and serious attention in the scientific field of nanotechnology begun to show light and project started emerging with the aim of producing nanotechnology road maps (Allhoff & Moore, 2010).
The applications nanotechnology
Nanotechnology can be applied in various fields of study. These include medicine, energy, electronic, materials, and environment among others.
In the field of medicine, researchers have made efforts to apply the use of nanotechnology in the cure of diseases majorly cancer. This is through the development of nanoparticles which are used in the development of three anticancer drugs. Graphite based devise which is subject to nanotechnology is being researched to evaluate its potential monitoring the glucose levels especially for individuals who are affected with diabetes. In medicine, nanotechnology is widely used in the generation of terahertz frequency signals. Researchers also in electronics have uses the knowledge of nanotechnology to demonstrate antennas which are made of graphite. Again an optical swath was developed which can be changed on and off through moving a single silver atom. In the energy sector, nanotechnology knowledge has been used in the development of incandescent light bulb; it has also been used to develop metal organic frameworks which have the ability of storing natural...