FUTURE JOBS READERS Level 4 What is nanotechnology
FUTURE JOBS READERS Level 4 -②
What is nanotechnology? Nanotechnology is the moving or changing of matter at an atomic or molecular level. Looking at nanoparticles under a high-power microscope What are nanoparticles? Nanoparticles are smaller than atoms. They are a million times smaller than things that researchers can see with the average microscope.
Why do people study nanotechnology? Researchers in a lab Researchers study nanotechnology. . . • to understand the world around us. • to develop technology that we can use in our daily lives.
Is it possible to make things using nanotechnology today? Yes, it is. By moving around molecules to form certain shapes, nanotechnologists can build materials with amazing uses. Putting on sunscreen What is an example of something made using nanotechnology? Sunscreen contains tiny nanoparticles that protect your skin from the sun.
How is nanotechnology used in different fields today? Doctors in a hospital In the medical industry, nanotechnologists are doing great things. They can attach tiny cameras to small pills that a person can swallow. What are researchers still working on? Nanotechnologists in the medical field are trying to. . . • make nanoparticles that stick to medicines to kill harmful cells from the inside. • use nanoparticles to grow nerves to repair damaged body parts. Blood cells
What kind of nanotechnology research is being done in transportation? Nanotechnologists are trying to develop. . . • more environmentally friendly fuels for cars or special engines that don’t make the air dirty. • ways to check the strength and safety of bridges, roadways, and other structures using nanotechnology. An environmentally friendly car Checking a bridge over a roadway A cracked road
What is a nano-bot? A nano-bot is a special molecule that researchers use in the same way we use robots to build cars and computer parts. A tiny robot Shopping in a supermarket What can nano-bots be used for? With nano-bots, some scientists think they will be able to make everything from diamonds to food in the future.
How can a person become a nanotechnologist? To become a nanotechnologist requires a lot of education. Nearly all nanotech scientists these days hold Ph. D. degrees. They study a lot of biology, chemistry, engineering, physics, and mathematics. University students Does it only take a lot of study to be a nanotechnologist? No, success in this field also requires that a person be good at both concrete and abstract thinking.
Researchers in a lab What is it like to be a nanotechnologist? You’ll work in a laboratory, where you’ll use specific scientific equipment, like high-power microscopes. You may work on projects with scientists in other countries, so you may need to travel for research and conferences. Where do nanotechnologists work? Students with answers They work in universities, medical research centers, and businesses. Some nanotechnology research scientists even work from home in their home laboratories.
Vocabulary ü atom n. the smallest unit of a molecule made up of protons, electrons, and neutrons ü attach v. to join one thing to another
Vocabulary ü chemistry n. the study of the structure of substances ü microscope n. a piece of equipment that makes small things look bigger
Vocabulary ü molecule n. two or more atoms joined to each other ü pill n. a small, prepared amount of a medicine
Vocabulary ü physics n. the science of understanding matter, energy, motion, and forces ü sunscreen n. a cream used to protect skin from the sun
- Slides: 13