The BBC’s Radio 4 has been running a series of short programs – Street Science – featuring scientists being sent out onto the streets to engage random members of the public about controversial bits of science. The latest program dealt with nanotechnology, with my friend and colleague Tony Ryan getting a good hearing in the centre of Sheffield. The programme (RealPlayer file) is well worth a listen, as he talks about applications in medicine and novel photovoltaics, how 2-in-1 shampoo works, Fantastic Voyage, Prince Charles and grey goo, the potential dangers of carbon nanotubes, and why nanosilver-based odour resistant socks may not be a good idea.
Thank you for this post, which I very rudely forgot to acknowledge when I excitedly blogged about the series – see my reply to Andrew Maynard’s comment. You can dress us ex-colonials up but you can’t take us anywhere.
http://nospinpr.com/2008/12/10/traditional-media-takes-it-to-the-streets/