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I'm currently taking a nanophysics module as part of my physics degree, and we have been required to read a UK government report on the development of nanotechnology, and there is plenty in there to worry me even as an unqualified scientist.

Public awareness of nanotechnology is low. 29% of Britons (who, no offense, are likely to be more informed than Americans) have heard of the term and only 19% could offer a definition. Of those who knew what it was, 68% thought it would improve life whilst 4% thought it would make life worse

I've read stuff in this report though, that if it were widely known could well cause widespread panic, and leave nanotechnology about as trusted as GM crops. Nanoparticles, by virtue of their vastly increased surface area and the beginnings of quantum effects, can have very different properties than their bulk material counterparts. Bulk copper, for example, is soft and malleable. Copper particles less than 50nm or so across are very hard crystals.

Toxicity can change too - http://www.physorg.com/news63466994.html - there are some indications that substances which are benign in bulk are dangerous as nanoparticles. Of course, nobody knows because the people using these nanoparticles in products like suncreen haven't bothered to test them properly. They haven't bothered because its expensive, and the legislation hasn't caught up with the technology yet. Bulk and nanoparticles are for the most part treated as identical.

When the oh so trusting public I mentioned before find out about this, and find out that the people who knew about it didn't do enough to inform them, and the people using these substances in products didn't bother to do any real testing on them, they are going to be really pissed off. People will tolerate greedy corporations, corrupt politicians and idiotic media - but they have been known to get off their arses and complain when they discover they could've been rubbing carcinogens on their children's skin.

Its long, but its nicely bulletpointed so it isn't difficult to get through

Essentially (yes, I did not RTFA) we are talking about injecting nano-particles into the frying oil to make it last longer?

Even though some nano-materials could be highly dangerous to human health? In other words, we may end up with highly dangerous cancer-causing products used in kitchens? To fry greasy stuff that we know are bad for our health anyway? Talk about a double whammy: if your heart attack does not kill you, cancer from nano-particles will. And do you want fries with that?

Then again, this is business as usual in the USA, so I guess it will probably be used soon.

Did you do any research on the possible dangers of nanotech before dismissing its opponents as "people who run up and start protesting before they know a damned thing about what they're protesting"?

Has it occurred to you that maybe the various serious commentators advising caution might have a point?

Did you do any research on the possible dangers of nanotech before dismissing its opponents as "people who run up and start protesting before they know a damned thing about what they're protesting"?

Has it occurred to you that maybe the various serious commentators advising caution might have a point?