Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Nanotechnology For Layperson

Nanotechnology, which is sometimes shortened to "Nanotech", refers to a field whose theme is the control of matter on an atomic and molecular scale.
One nanometer (nm) is one billionth, or 10-9, of a meter. To put that scale in another context, the comparative size of a nanometer to a meter is the same as that of a marble to the size of the earth. Or another way of putting it: a nanometer is the amount a man's beard grows in the time it takes him to raise the razor to his face. Still simpler one nanometer is about 10000 times finer than the thickness of a strand of your hair.
A number of physical phenomena become pronounced as the size of the system decreases. These include statistical mechanical effects, as well as quantum mechanical effects, for example the “quantum size effect” where the electronic properties of solids are altered with great reductions in particle size. This effect does not come into play by going from macro to micro dimensions. However, it becomes dominant when the nanometer size range is reached. Additionally, a number of physical (mechanical, electrical, optical, etc.) properties change when compared to macroscopic systems. One example is the increase in surface area to volume ratio altering mechanical, thermal and catalytic properties of materials.
Materials reduced to the nanoscale can show different properties compared to what they exhibit on a macroscale, enabling unique applications. For instance, opaque substances become transparent (copper); stable materials turn combustible (aluminum); solids turn into liquids at room temperature (gold); insulators become conductors (silicon). A material such as gold, which is chemically inert at normal scales, can serve as a potent chemical catalyst at nanoscales. Much of the fascination with nanotechnology stems from these quantum and surface phenomena that matter exhibits at the nanoscale.
I had always maintained that the skeptics of the great medical science homoeopathy which uses highly dilution produced by series of succussion  will find their answers to how homoeopathy works in nano technology and quantum physics.  IIT - Bombay Researchers Prashant, A.K. Suresh, Jayesh Bellare & Shantaram Govind published papers titled "Extreme Homeopathic Dilutions retain starting materials - A nonoparticulate perspective.


The Master of Indian Medicine Systems ‘Ayurveda’ observed that “continuous grinding (trituration) imparted to the medicine a force or power of action very much higher than that possessed by the drug”. So you have the Bhasmas or Ash that exhibit properties different from their material form.
Many Indian homes follow the practice of filling water in a copper vessel (Tambe ka Lota in Hindi) overnight and drinking it the next day morning, this charged water is said to be beneficial in ailments like blood pressure, increase body heat (Kapha), This is useful for all diseases and problems connected with the nervous system, e.g. high blood pressure, arthritis, polio, tension and leprosy.
Ancient people used to make ample use of silver and gold in their daily life knowing their importance. The rich even used their utensils of silver and gold. Silver is useful for the diseases of the organs connected with the digestive system and urinary system.
Babies in India are fed milk in silver glass as it is said to enhance brain power.
Another good example of Nanotechnology in use is the Samsung Nano Washing Machine. It uses silver ion that disinfects and creates a sterilizing coat on washed clothes.
Samsung tells how it works:
Samsung WM1245A Washing Machine releases over 400 billion silver ions which penetrate deep into fabrics of any kind and create a coat of sterilizing protection for a maximum of 99.99% disinfection and an added antibacterial effect of up to 30 days after washing.

Recent medical reports published in leading newspapers indicate that physicist are using naoparticles to bust cancerous cells. Another research cites the efficacy of silver gel in treating cases of burns.