Jar of nanoparticles, c 2006

Jar of nanoparticles, c 2006. Nanoparticles already exist in nature: in volcanic ash, ocean spray, forest-fire smoke, clouds and clay. We also create them when we smoke a cigarette or fry our food or drive our cars. Nanotechnology can be used to create better ways to generate energy and new ways to clean up pollution because at the nano-scale, materials become very reactive. There are particular concerns about manufactured nanoparticles which are loose, rather than fixed in a material. If they get into the environment, they could be hard to get rid of. They may be toxic and cause damage in living organisms. However, there has been very little research done into what might happen when particles enter the environment or our bodies. ©SSPL/Science Museum