Nanowerk brings us an interview from Chemical Biology about the use of nanotechnology for the measurement of happiness. Yoshinobu Baba, a professor of chemistry at Nagoya University and a director for nanobiotechnology research at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan, explains:
Nanobiotechnology could be used as a measure of happiness, stress levels and health. We can measure the stages of cancer or diabetes, since genomic research tells us which genes are related to which diseases. But we need to analyse proteomics and glycomics in more detail. The next stage is to measure the function of the brain, looking at happiness and stress.
The aging population is increasing. Ten years from now 25% of the Japanese population will be over 65. So we need to make older people feel happier. The control of disease means happiness for some people and we can develop measurements of health and control the disease. But we have no technology to measure the happiness. And the definition of happiness is different for each of us so we need a personalised happiness measurement. That is an important target.
It’s good to see our right to “the pursuit of happiness” being furthered by nanobiotech. I feel better already. —Christine