Reporter’s Notebook

SO SMALL, YET SO HUGE

As you read this, science, business and government reps are at the Micro Nano Breakthrough Conference at the Hilton Vancouver. nLight President and CEO Scott Keeney is one of its dozens of brainy speakers.

So what’s a micro nano anything? In Monday’s Nano 101 seminar I learned that nanosciences deal with particles too small to see with most microscopes. From the nano-bit I know, microscience deals with a slightly larger scale.

Nanoscientists work at such a small scale that they can change the optical and chemical structures of materials like water. The government has used nanotechnology to detect pathogens like anthrax, and it could help develop fuel cell technologies, cancer treatment and even magnetic liquid.

The consumer market has 600-plus products made with nano-tech materials. Paul Burrows, a consultant from Kennewick-based Reata Research who led the seminar, said misinformation from the media (darn journalists!) has led to a nano-scare, making even government leaders fear that all nanoproducts are toxic.

“Misinformation on the technology can stifle innovation and leave us exposed to problems that nanotechnology can solve,” Burrows said in a Sean Connery-like accent. “We don’t teach risk assessment and in high schools and that shows up in everything from the way we invest to the way we react to new technology.”

Learn more at www.nanotechproject.org

- Charity Thompson, cthompson@vbjusa.com