Nanotechnologies: Small science, big potential and bigger issues

Michele Mekel asks that we take into account nanotechnology-related ethical, legal, and social implications (NELSI) when we consider environmental, health, and safety issues and indeed the constitution of human nature. We need to break down the hyperbole around the marketing of nanotechnologies and go beyond the ‘nanobabble’ in both science and technology and discuss much more candidly the ethical and social issues. Development (2006) 49, 47–53. doi:10.1057/palgrave.development.1100296