Only 29.4 percent of Americans believe nanotechnology is "morally acceptable," compared with 62.7 percent in Germany and 72.1 percent in France. The difference has to do with religion, says a University of Wisconsin professor: Americans believe nanotech researchers are "playing God" by trying to extend humans' capabilities. With nanotech poised to give sensation to artificial skin, cure brain cancer and even make your blood cells intelligent, you could see a gulf between European post-humans and American ortho-humans in a few decades if these views translate into law. (But note: the survey in question had a sample size of only about 1,000.) Light-emitting nanowire image from Harvard. [Science Daily]

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