How can single atoms be manipulated? Are the laws of physics still valid at the nanostructure scale? How could nanotechnologies help cure disease? What are the application fields of nanotechnologies and what ethical issues do they raise? These questions and many others are answered in this clearly presented, fascinating book.

This updated second edition puts nanotechnologies into perspective by explaining issues in health, environmental and military application domains, and discusses the technology in the context of current media and ethical debates. It also introduces the ambitious, and perhaps almost utopian, NBIC programme (Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information technology and Cognitive science) - an initiative that foresees the 'reunification' of science by encouraging collaboration among specialists of different scientific domains.

Intended for a wide audience, this book will interest teachers and students of science, as well as those with a general interest in how modern technologies and the sciences interact.