“This fascinating book weaves together the past, present, and future of nanotechnology, explaining the development and use of the science…very interesting for advanced high school students and adults. A high school chemistry or physics teacher might use sections of the book to challenge students or to provide examples of applications for some of the most complex ideas in advanced science…But the best place for this book is in colleges and universities. It can provide outstanding ideas for student research, development, and project design.”
- NSTA Recommends
“…an entertaining, nontechnical book describing [Hall’s] vision of possible nanotechnology futures…this book fills a niche as a brief, inspirational introduction to nanotechnology for budding nanoscientists as well as the general public. Highly recommended.”
- Choice
“Hall's book may seem a bit basic for hardcore nanotechnology enthusiasts, but it's aimed at a general audience. With nanotechnology progress proceeding apace, that's the kind of audience that needs to be brought into the conversation. Hall's book is a first-rate introduction.”
- New York Post
"Readers excited by the promises of nanotechnology will find this book a gripping read."
- Publishers Weekly
Flying cars, space travel for everyone, the elimination of poverty and hunger, and powerful new tools to combat disease, and even aging. These are some of the amazing predicted developments of nanotechnology, the coming science of designing and building machines at the molecular and atomic levels. Will this new scientific revolution be for better or worse? Some commentators have described utopias; others have prophesied disaster. Find out the likely reality from an expert, Dr. J. Storrs Hall, in this absorbing insider’s guide to the near future.
Dr. Hall — a leading researcher on the frontiers of nanotechnology who has designed for NASA — describes nanotechnology in a very accessible way, so that anyone can understand what it’s about, what it could do, and what it can’t do. He puts it into historical context, explaining how previous technological developments have affected us, how nanotechnology fits into the historical trends for technologies ranging from motors to medicine, and how the continuation of these trends, with nanotechnology as a strong determining factor, will have a profound impact on the future.
In addition to describing his famous invention Utility Fog, Hall explains how nanotechnology will make possible many of the science fiction dreams of the past. But what hurdles, technological, political, or social, stand in the way? What dangers will this powerful new technology pose? How will it impact the environment? Can we afford to develop it? Can we afford not to? The true dangers are not what you may think, and are far different from the fears of today’s alarmists. In a straightforward, balanced manner, Dr. Hall analyzes the benefits as well as the potential risks.
Together with its sister science of biotechnology, nanotechnology has the potential to alter the very human race, change who we are. Can this possibly be good? Should it be encouraged or opposed? No one knows for sure, but the basis for informed thought can be found in these exciting, stimulating pages, which will open the doors of the future to you.
Book Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 333
ISBN: 1-59102-287-8
Shipping Weight: 2lbs
Author Bio:
J. Storrs Hall, Ph.D. (Laporte, PA), is Chief Scientist of Nanorex, Inc. and a Fellow of the Molecular Engineering Research Institute. He served as a Computer Systems Architect at the Laboratory for Computer Science Research at Rutgers University from 1985 to 1997. He is the author of the “Nanotechnologies” section for The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Energy, among many scientific articles, and has been cited in numerous books.
