Though still largely exploratory, nanoscience is gradually becoming nanobusiness, and consumers looking for payoffs should expect near-term gains in semiconductors, data storage, life sciences, and optics to name a few.

The Army\'s first foray into nanotechnology is to develop an interactive and protective uniform for soldiers, according to Dr. Michael Andrews, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Research and Technology.

Defense Department researchers told lawmakers that nanotechnology promises immense gains, especially in computers, materials and propulsion, but its benefits are still decades away and likely to be difficult and costly to mass produce.

Researchers hope to use advances in computers, communications and neuroscience to medically enhance the mental acuity of future soldiers, while connecting their body and minds to smarter machines.

The Navy is funding a team of scientists to build molecule-sized probes that bind to and wirelessly monitor individual neurons in living brains. If successful, the devices might one day help those with spinal injuries reconnect mind and muscle.