Nanotechnology may hold the key to incredible advances in a wide range of sciences, from treating diseases to creating better fuel cells. But the use of nano-sized particles is not just part of some science fiction future, nanoparticles are being manufactured and used in many of the products we use everyday. Some experts believe that not enough research has been done on the potential health and environmental effects of nanoparticles. On this hour, we'll talk with a novelist who imagines the hazards of nanoparticles in a small town. Then we'll discuss the realities of the research and regulation of these materials.

Guests:

Carla Buckley, author of Invisible

Brita Belli, editor at E- The Environmental Magazine

Dr. Arturo A. Keller, co-director of UC Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology