Nanotubes are thrown around today’s media in almost every day. It is not hard to find an article claiming nanotechnology will cause cancer, or possibly even end the world.

Professor Alexander Orlov of State University of New York, Stony Brook has done extensive research on the misrepresented nanoparticle.

There is rising concern in today’s society about these nanoparticles.

It is seen as a buzzword almost that some people equate with deadly. Orlov’s goal is to educate others on how nanotechnology works and why they won’t cause the world to end.

Historically, nanotechnology has been used as long as 400-500 years ago in stained glass, and possibly the first application as long as 1600 years ago in glass work from ancient Rome that incorporates gold and silver.

Nanotechnology has been supported by the US government since about 2001. Applications “permeate all industry” said Orlov. This includes your cellphone, solar panels, various sensors, and other applications.

Nanotechnology is making individual atoms create structures. Orlov highlighted a video IBM released titled “The Smallest Video” where researchers created a stop motion movie using single atoms.

Beyond that, researchers are also trying to modify H­₂O and CO₂ to some sort of usable fuel.

Orlov highlighted one of Iowa State’s applications of nanotechnology, air purification.

Iowa State, partnering with PURETi, has been researching window curtains that can purify the air.

Similar applications have been used in reducing emissions in New York City, and protecting a cathedral in Milan, Italy.

“the problem is real in big cities,” Orlov said “In New York City there were over 3,000 deaths due to air pollution related causes last year.”

Although Iowa does not have such a severe problem, there is still an effort. Technology to apply air pollution reduction coatings to wind turbines is being applied to Puerto Rico, but if costs can be reduced, may also be used in places like Iowa.

As far as safety, Orlov proves over and over that nanotubes are causing nothing but cleaner air and more advanced technology.

Manufacturing is perhaps the most dangerous part of the nanotube life-cycle. Safety standards allow workers to safely produce nanotechnology, and also to dispose of it correctly.

Improper exposure may lead to death if not handled correctly, but if handled correctly there is no risk Orlov said.

Orlov compared nanotechnology to nuclear technology.

Both are dangerous if not held up to certain safety standards, but there is no denying the great benefits of the technologies when handled correctly.

There is no escaping nanotechnology. Nanoparticles can be found in goods for children, appliances, automobiles, cosmetics, clothing, and even has applications in food.

According to Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, over 1800 products contain nanoparticles and the industry is worth billions of dollars, projected to pass $5 billion by 2022.

Orlov does state that more study is needed. He doesn’t want to promise that all nanotechnology is safe and everything should be coated in nanoparticles. That would be insane this early on in the industry.

Orlov mentioned society has a flawed idea of what nanotechnology is. He highlighted a picture of small robots that are meant to “float in your blood and repair blood cells”. He said this is science fiction and will not happen. “Regular technologies become different at that sort of scale”.