Manipulating atoms and molecules has a vast and shining future for products ranging from drugs to medical gear to computers.

In the near nanotech future, today’s medical instruments will seem crude. Take magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. A current MRI offers surgeons a macro view, comparable to a satellite picture of the Earth. Applying nanotechnology will enable the MRI to create the equivalent of street-by-street photos.

Pharmaceutical companies will use nanotech to develop molecules to treat neurological diseases. In the computer industry the possibilities are endless, such as computers the size of a dot. The German chemical giant BASF is working on a toothpaste that will not only resist tooth decay–the familiar ad slogan–but reverse it by rebuilding tooth enamel.

Prompted by what amounts to an international footrace for nanotechnology supremacy, Congress is about to sign off on $2.4 billion in research grants for nanotech.

Source: Forbes