The world is awash in nanomaterials, but they are not the self-
replicating specks that turn the world to gray goo in science
fiction novels. Instead, they are exotic substances that lend
their unique properties to a wide variety of ordinary-seeming
products, from gauze to tennis balls. Drunken mobs can do some
serious damage with glass beer bottles. In many places, like the
ballpark, brittle containers are an unacceptable safety hazard.
To cut down on the calamity, plus reduce manufacturing costs,
some beverage companies have turned to exotic materials. Clay
nanoparticles allow Miller Brewing to bottle its beer in plastic
containers. The tiny reinforcements keep oxygen out and hold
carbon dioxide in, which prevents the brewed beverage from
spoiling. But consumer activists are concerned that
nanoparticles in food packaging could also be a safety concern,
even if they do come from something as innocuous as dirt. When a
heavy bullet slams into soft body armor, it can cause a lot of
damage even without penetratin