Consumer Products
After more than twenty years of basic and applied research, nanotechnologies are gaining in commercial use.
Nanoscale materials now are in electronic, cosmetics, automotive and medical products. But it has been difficult to find out how many “nano” consumer products are on the market and which merchandise could be called “nano.” Learn more in the Consumer Products Inventory.
- publications/archive April 24, 2008 Congressional Testimony - National Nanotechnology Initiative: Charting the Course for Reauthorization New nanotechnology consumer products are coming on the market at the rate of three to four per week, a finding based on the latest update to the nanotechnology consumer product inventory. Today, in testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, PEN Project Director David Rejeski cited Ace Silver Plus—another of the nine nano toothpastes in the inventory—as an example of the upsurge in nanotechnology consumer products in stores. The hearing marks the start of U.S. Senate debate on the future direction of the annual $1.5 billion federal investment in nanotechnology research and development .
- news/archive April 24, 2008 New Nanotech Products Hitting the Market at the Rate of 3-4 Per Week New nanotechnology consumer products are coming on the market at the rate of three to four per week, a finding based on the latest update to the nanotechnology consumer product inventory maintained by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN). The number of consumer products using nanotechnology has grown from 212 to 609 since PEN launched the world’s first online inventory of manufacturer-identified nanotech goods in March 2006.
- events/archive April 2, 2008 New Nanotechnology Television Series Does “Sweat the Small Stuff” The Project and National Science Foundation will host the Washington, DC, premiere event for the television series “Nanotechnology: The Power of Small”. The series’ three programs explore critical questions about nanotechnology’s potential impact on privacy, the environment and human health and will include remarks by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, a co-chair of the Congressional Nanotechnology Caucus.
- news/archive March 7, 2008 EPA Issues Major Enforcement Action on Nano-Pesticide The Environmental Protection Agency has made the decision to fine technology company IOGEAR more than $200,000 for selling unregistered nano-pesticides. At issue are antibacterial claims made by IOGEAR related to its computer peripheral products. All of the products in question are listed in the Project’s inventory of nanotechnology consumer products.
- news/archive February 11, 2008 Know Your Nano? Free iPods To Those With High “Nano IQ”! Five free iPod Nanos are up for grabs! To celebrate the launch of our redesigned website, the Project is sponsoring a “Nano-IQ” contest. Winners will be randomly selected from those who successfully complete the five-question quiz. - UPDATE: Winners Announced!
- publications/archive January 4, 2008 Looking Back on the First Two Years This report reviews the Project’s major activities, key contributions, and most significant impacts over its first two years.
- publications/archive December 3, 2007 Feynman, Voltaire and Beckett on Nanotechnology This presentation examines flaws in the assertion by the U.S. government that the existing regulatory system is adequate to address risks from nanotechnologies and explores actions that need to be taken to help foster successful commercialization of nano products.
- news/archive May 17, 2007 Nanotechnology Now Used in Nearly 500 Everyday Products
- publications/archive December 5, 2006 What Drives Public Acceptance of Nanotechnology? Published in Nature Nanotechnology 1
- news/archive November 27, 2006 Have Yourself A Merry “Nano” Christmas!
- news/archive October 5, 2006 Nanotechnology: Sold in a Store Near You!
- publications/archive July 19, 2006 FDA-Regulated products containing nanotechnology materials
- news/archive April 25, 2006 NPR: Health, Safety and the Future of Nanotechnology On Tuesday April 25th, 2006 Project staff David Rejeski, Julia Moore and Evan Michelson were guests on NPR’s Tech Tuesday show. audio
- news/archive March 13, 2006 NPR: Safety of Nano-Cosmetics Questioned “Morning Edition, March 13, 2006 — Andrew Maynard doesn’t wear makeup. But lately, buying beauty cream and lip gloss is part of his job. Maynard is the science advisor for the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The center has just put up a new Web site with a searchable list of 212 commercially available nano-products. Thirty-one of those products are cosmetics.” audio
- events/archive March 10, 2006 First Nanotechnology Consumer Products Inventory Available to Public From laptop computers to sunscreens to stain-resistant clothing, nanotechnology is gaining ground in the consumer products marketplace. video
