Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Society

Abstract

Labeled either as the next industrial revolution'' or as just hype,’’ nanoscience and nanotechnologies are controversial, touted by some as the likely engines of spectacular transformation of human societies and even human bodies, and by others as conceptually flawed. The Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Society offers accessible descriptions of some of the key technical achievements of nanoscience along with its history and prospects. Rather than a technical primer, this encyclopedia focuses on the efforts of governments around the world to fund nanoscience research and to tap its potential for economic development, as well as to assess how best to regulate a new technology for environmental, occupational, and consumer health and safety issues.