The politics of small things: nanotechnology, risk, and uncertainty

This article summarizes the debate surrounding the development and use of engineered nanomaterials, and discusses how many non-governmental organizations are raising the alarm about the potential health and environmental risks associated with the expanding use of some nanoparticles. The author compares this outcry to the controversy surrounding genetically modified organisms, and discusses how new techniques exist for involving the public in discussions about new technologies which could be potentially helpful in the case of nanotechnology.