One thing that hasnt changed in 2005 is the avalanche of bizarre articles claiming to explain what nanotechnology is. Kamala Balachandran has a stab at it in the Deccan Herald, avoiding the usual trap when comparing a nanometre to the width of a human hair.
Things go downhill from there, but we are grateful for the explanation of what a nanoscientist actually does all day, or at least when they get a break from considering ethical and environmemtal dilemmas.
Essentially, what a nanoscientist does is to physically isolate the atoms or molecules of a chosen substance, move them around and rearrange in the desired manner.
Balachandran finally jumps head first into the quagmire, concluding that excessive manipulation of molecules poses ethical questions on the long-term implications of man playing God in which case we’ll be off to make an offering to our nearest Chemist.