The pursuit of the minutely small - nanotechnology - is thriving in academia, in the private sector, and in global state science and technology programs. This work aims to better enable an informed national debate and to affect international dialogue on the role and impact of nanotechnology and emerging science on national defense and homeland security. Combining original research with the findings of an interdisciplinary, defense-oriented workshop, the book explores the current realities and potential for transformational breakthroughs in nanotechnology-based chemical and biological countermeasures, as well as identifies research directions in basic and applied science. Security implications, both for traditional nonproliferation regimes and for misuse by non-state actors are also considered. This ambitious effort serves manifold objectives, including the following:

"The research underpinning this work was intended to better enable an informed national debate and to affect international debate on the potential role and impact of nanotechnology and emerging science on national defense and homeland security. The text highlights the findings and conclusions from the study and accompanying workshop as well as identifies research directions in basic and applied science that may foster transformational breakthroughs in nanotechnology-based chemical and biological countermeasures. This ambitious effort serves manifold objectives, including the following:. To give policymakers a strategic roadmap to provide a basis for research direction decisions;. To provide an overview of the current and future challenges, both for traditional military operations and for homeland security applications;. To provide a survey of potential future proliferation and malfeasant co-option of emerging technologies;. To discuss organizational structure and management of chemical and biological defense-related research and nanotechnology-related research at the federal level.Throughout, the emphasis is on revolutionary rather than evolutionary science and technology. This work intentionally straddles between technical disciplines and social sciences making it truly interdisciplinary. Ideas or work from across the experimental and theoretical physical and life sciences are included. Contributions of social scientists were also actively sought."

Preface.- Scope and Purpose.- Acknowledgements.- Framing the Opportunities and the Challenges.- Responding to a New Threat Environment.- The Changing Nature of Warfare.- The Changing Nature of Technological Progress.- Other Critical Factors.-Implementing the Process.- Scenario-based Planning.- Using Scenarios to Roadmap and Prioritize.- Applying Nanotechnology to Revolutionary CB Countermeasures.- Progress at the Nanoscale.- Physical Protection.- Detection and Diagnostics of Chemical and Biological Agents.- Decontamination.- Medical Countermeasures.- From Capability Needs to Research Priorities.- Potential Malfeasant Co-Option Of Nanotechnology.- Novel Nanotechnology-enabled Biochemical Weapons.- Nanoparticles with Toxic or Deleterious Health Effects.- Bio- and Nanoenabled Influence Operations.- Nanotechnology-enabled Evasion of Medical Countermeasures.- Self-Assembled Materials and Devices, and Potential Molecular Assemblers.- Strategic Research Priorities and Directions.- Structure and Function of Nanomaterials.- Systems Biology.- The Interface with Biological Systems: 'Bridging the Bio and Nano Worlds' .- Self-Assembly, in vivo and in vitro.- Modeling and Simulation.- Power and Energy.- Systems Integration and Engineering.- Translational Medicine.- The Need to Foster Revolutionary Science.- Evolving Threats and Driving Forces.- The Need for Strategic Vision.- Fostering Breakthrough Discoveries.- Challenges in Coordination of CB Defense Research.- Looking Forward.- Appendices.- Appendix A Roles and Missions of Chemical and Biological Defense Organizations.-Appendix B. Attendees at the Workshop on Nanotechnology for Chemical and Biological Defense.- Appendix C. Agenda for the Workshop on Nanotechnology for Chemical and Biological Defense.- Appendix D. Acronyms and Abbreviations.- Index.