Watch videos from others who have responded to the following questions. Add your own voice to the conversation.
How would you feel if your family decided to implant a mood altering nano device in your chronically depressed uncle?
How would you feel if your family wanted to you to use a mood lifting nano device because you are chronically depressed?
Since 1991, Earth & Sky has worked with thousands of scientists to produce more than 5,000 radio spots on night sky astronomy, and on sustainability needs and strategies for the 21st century. Recently, Earth & Sky has created stories to build a bridge between nanotechnology scientists and the public. Use the player below to listen to stories on nanotechnology topics relevant to this episode of Power of Small.
Program Title: Forever Young
Taped at SCETV in Columbia, SC
Physicians today usually diagnose and treat diseases after symptoms appear – often using “one size fits all” therapies. Nanomedicine will help predict an individual’s chance of specific disease, continually monitor for disease occurrence, and provide individualized, pre-symptom treatment. Nano-enabled drugs and devices will scout out, target, and destroy diseased cells, while nanostructured biomaterials will allow tissue repair and regeneration not possible today. In two decades, nanomedicine may extend life expectancy far beyond the all-time high of 75 to 80 years in developed countries.
But there may be unintended consequences from our drive to live healthier and longer lives. As we develop devices that can monitor 100’s of health indicators and signal disease before it happens, we also generate a lot of information about ourselves that others can view. As we develop technology for treating diseases and disabilities, those same technologies can also be used to enhance things like vision and muscle reaction time. And as nanomedicine allows us to live longer and healthier lives, we will challenge our social support systems and cultural values even further than they are today. John Hockenberry, award winning correspondent for NBC and NPR guides the panel of experts through these tough scenarios.
