Most are probably too young to remember but nanotechnology was supposed to be the most super amazing thing ever.

    • CanadaPlus
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      1 year ago

      I mean, most of the magical uses haven’t materialised. Computers are better, that’s about it. It has a few other commercial applications, but they’re indistinguishable from normal chemistry from a laymen’s perspective.

      • hperrin@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        That highly depends on what you mean by “nanotechnology”. There are tons of advancements in medicine that use what most people would consider to be nanotechnology. As well as material science, robotics, energy production and storage, and telecommunications, to name a few.

        • CanadaPlus
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          1 year ago

          Any that a laymen could tell from new chemistry? The bit after the comma was load-bearing there.

          • hperrin@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            I mean how uninformed of a layman are we talking about? Do they know the difference between a molecule and a micelle?

            • CanadaPlus
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              1 year ago

              Honestly I had to look that up, because while I know the concept the term was only vaguely familiar. I would say I know more about this stuff than 99% of people. Relevant XKCD