The Guardian: Small scale, massive impact: live nanotechnology Q&A – join the debate

Amid all the science fiction predictions of nano-robots and artificial organs, it’s easy to forget that nanotechnology is very much here and now. But is it safe? What effect is it having on your life, and what more would you like to know?
If you think nanotechnology is all about the future, then think again. At the last count more than a thousand products or product lines were listed on a public inventory of consumer products based on nanotechnology. From vehicle bumpers to skis and golf clubs, from mobile phones to pillow cases, nanotechnology is very much part of our everyday lives.
The future of green energy is being made more and more viable through the use of nanomaterials, already apparent in wind turbines and processing hazardous waste. Nanomedicine has been transforming diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities in healthcare for more than a decade. As Professor Gabriel Aeppli of the London Centre of Nanotechnology says: “For humans to survive, we need to engineer nanomaterials.”
But it’s not without controversy. Some futurologists paint a dark picture relating to “grey goo”, a hypothetical end of the world scenario in which self-replicating robots consume all matter on earth. While this may be extreme, developing new technology such as this comes with warnings. Do the benefits outweigh the potential risks? Should new techniques and materials be regulated? Are they safe? And should we be worried about unforeseen side effects?
This is your chance to ask engineer, material scientist, broadcaster and writer Dr Mark Miodownik just what impact it does – and will – have on your life. Dr Miodownik is research director of the Institute of Making and was recently included in the the Times list of the top 100 most influential people in science (coming in at number 89).
You can still read the intriguing Q&A took place on  Thursday 15 December, with nanotechnology expert Dr Mark Miodownik: