Issue 2, 2015

Nanotechnology: nature's gift or scientists' brainchild?

Abstract

In the field of environmental nanotechnology, opinions on the novelty of engineered nanomaterials vary; some scientists believe that many engineered nanomaterials are indeed unique, while others are convinced that we are simply fabricating structures already designed in nature. In this article, we present balanced, objective evidence on both sides of the debate. While the idea of novel nanomaterials opens the mind to imagine truly unique structures with architectures unparalleled in nature, the idea that these structures have related analogs in nature has environmental relevance as scientists and engineers aim to design and manufacture more sustainable and environmentally benign nanomaterials.

Graphical abstract: Nanotechnology: nature's gift or scientists' brainchild?

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
04 Sep 2014
Accepted
02 Dec 2014
First published
02 Dec 2014
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2015,2, 114-119

Nanotechnology: nature's gift or scientists' brainchild?

M. F. Hochella, M. G. Spencer and K. L. Jones, Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2015, 2, 114 DOI: 10.1039/C4EN00145A

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