Through the science fiction of Star Trek and other works, the notion of nanotechnology--the science of the minutely small--has entered the collective public psyche. Nanotechnology's science fact is thriving in academia and in the private sector. Innovation through nanotechnology finds many proponents within the military and defense industry to increase the effectiveness and strength of traditional weapons.

To date, three broad topics have dominated discussion regarding nanotechnology risks: (1) health and environmental consequences, (2) the privacy and security of the individual, and (3) uncontrolled self-replication and artificial intelligence. Beyond these concerns, it is time to start thinking and planning for the possibilities and implications of nanotechnology to chemical and biological weapons applications. The current technical limitations of nanotechnology are such that the present threat is nearly negligible.

Regulatory policy and the scientific community are currently playing catch-up on cutting edge research and publication in the realm of biotechnology. From the illustrious genetic engineering of a super-virulent strain of mouse pox to the synthesis of artificial poliovirus, the potential misuse of molecular biology for biological weapons (BW) has received much attention both in the popular press and within academia. The time to develop and establish policy to deal with potential proliferation threats and terrorist uses of nanotechnology is not when such research applications appear inevitable

There is a need for threat anticipation not just agreement on facts regarding nanotechnology, in both proliferation of nanotech weapons and potential for terrorist misuse. Alternatively, we may find ourselves playing catch-up ten years down the road grappling with nanotechnology in the age of terrorism.