Page 194 - A Life - my Live - my path

My Ariadne’s thread: Science

20.2 Science
Science, its spirit and moralities.
Irrespective of the fact that I love science in general, what
appeals to me most is the rigor with which science, real
science, is approached.
The conquest of space, medical progress, autonomous cars,
developments in civil engineering, artificial intelligence,
miniaturization, nanoparticles ... everything interests me.
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Nanoparticles occupy a special place in this list, as this
revolutionary new technology affects practically every
sector: from medicine to the manufacturing of electronic
components, not overlooking industry, agriculture, water

treatment, cosmetics (creams, mascara, etc.) and food (food
additives and packaging).

These tiny particles possess physical and chemical
properties that larger particles don't, and which, for
manufacturers, solve a number of problems. Yet
nanoparticles are also a cause for concern. Some scientists
suspect them of being dangerous to health, as we still don't
know all the toxicological effects they may have.

157 Nanoparticles, also known as ultrafine particles (UFP), are molecules
ranging in size from 1 to 100 nanometers (1 nm = 10-9 m = 0.000000001
m). They are therefore larger than atoms (the diameter of a hydrogen atom
is on the order of a picometer [one thousandth of a nanometer]) and smaller
than a cell. A distinction is made between "engineered" nanoparticles,
artificially produced, and "secondary emissions", by-products of a reaction,
such as the particles present in cigarette smoke or diesel emissions..
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