Carbon nanotubes, CNT. They're small, and they're strong. To put the size into perspective, we measured the wavelength of the green LED light on a laptop in my physics class. It is 550 nanometers. Ok, so the size of a nanotube is less than ONE nanometer. Can you believe that? So small it makes LIGHT seem big. It's actually the strongest material evern known, too, and it's very light and tensile, which means you can bend it. High strength steel has a rating of 200. In comparison, the CNT has a rating of 1250.
One application we discussed in class is a possible elevator into space. This is strange stuff, but it could be possible with CNTs. We might be able to use them in medicine, too, to deliver tiny, tiny amounts of medicine directly at the area where it is needed.
There is currently some concern, though, about whether the nanotubes might be carcinogenic. That's a big deal, because CNTs are currently being used to manufacture wrinkle resistant and stain resistant clothing. And cosmetics. And bicycles. And electronics. And paints. And truckbeds. And windowfilm. And concretes. And no-stink socks. And ... and ... and, it's getting to be everywherre. The idea is that they are so small that they can interfere with cell function and may cause DNA from replicating properly, causing lesions or tumors.
But when I've gone shopping for so many of these items, I haven't seen any ingredient warnings telling me what contains nanomaterials and what doesn't. That's troublesome, if in fact they are dangerous, because that means that I don't get the choice of *not* exposing myself to them. I hope they're alright, because we might be in trouble otherwise.
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