Nanotechnology and Emergent Properties
Tuesday, 4. July 2006, 12:00:00
With respect to composition, the usual heuristic is to attempt to model the higher level of phenomena on the basis of a lower level of phenomena (sometimes termed, "a dimension less than the one under examination").
With respect to nanoparticles safety concerns arise from surprising and unpredictable toxicological qualities on biological cells:
Nanoparticles can be more toxic than the normally occurring larger particles, and, additionally, nanoparticles can exhibit novel electrical and catalytic properties which make them toxic in unpredictable ways.
Empirical research seems to be the method of discovery of the special properties of nanoparticles. By working from chemistry alone, or from physics alone, the properties of nanoparticles do not seem to be predictable. It seems promising that both sciences will benefit from another direction of discovery: examining seemingly emergent properties at a lower scale of phenomena.
With respect to nanoparticles safety concerns arise from surprising and unpredictable toxicological qualities on biological cells:
. (Aimee Cunningham, "Particular Problems: Assessing Risks of Nanotechnology," Science News, 169 No. 18 (6 May 2006), 280.)Their small size, large surface area, and unusual structures endow them with electronic, optical, and catalytic properties not found in their parent materials.
Nanoparticles can be more toxic than the normally occurring larger particles, and, additionally, nanoparticles can exhibit novel electrical and catalytic properties which make them toxic in unpredictable ways.
Empirical research seems to be the method of discovery of the special properties of nanoparticles. By working from chemistry alone, or from physics alone, the properties of nanoparticles do not seem to be predictable. It seems promising that both sciences will benefit from another direction of discovery: examining seemingly emergent properties at a lower scale of phenomena.
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