Nano, 5G Technology & Virtual Reality | Science & Technology for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

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Nanotechnology 
Nanotechnology is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 
nanometers. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small things and 
can be used across all the other science ?elds, such as chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, and 
engineering. 
Applications 
1. Proponents of nanotechnology say it will revolutionise farming and global food systems, with 
applications being explored that could cut waste, make food safer and help create super crops that 
escape the controversial label of genetically modi?ed organisms 
2. It could help to overcome poor yields, malnutrition and opposition to genetically modi?ed organisms – 
all of which are still large challenges in the global South 
3. New products containing nanoparticles are also being explored to make biodegradable packaging, 
improving shelf life and prevent food poisoning and waste  
?For example, nano sensors in food packaging could tell if food was exposed to sunlight and therefore 
degraded in quality 
4. Some scientists are planning to use nanotechnology to improve nutrition. Studies are being conducted 
on nano emulsions to improve the bioactivity of foods ingested with them and can tackle malnutrition 
and micronutrient de?ciency 
5. Scientists are even investigating the use of nanomaterials to improve the delivery of fertilisers and 
pesticides and to create transgenic crops that would not be considered GM 
?Research teams are exploring the use of carbon nanotubes to alter plant genes without foreign 
DNA being inserted into the plant genome itself, which would lead to gene-edited crops that would 
not be considered genetically modi?ed 
Concerns 
1. The transparency and vigilance against the risk are too limited in the absence of long-term studies on 
the impact of nano materials on human health and the environment 
?Potential harmful effects include the leaching of silver nanoparticles used in packaging into foods, 
which could kill off good bacteria in the gut 
?Titanium dioxide is used as a food whitener, which has shown to accumulate in tissues of rats and to 
have toxic effects at certain doses 
2. The science of nanotech is cutting-edge but simple enough to be affordable globally. And the 
development prospect is huge. So it’s no surprise that many developing countries have already 
embarked on commercialising the technology  
?But the developing nations have been left out of the conversations about nanotech regulation, and 
there is still a need for better regulation of technology at a national and global level to ensure 
minimum risk to people 
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