Israel has reportedly become the first nation to publicly acknowledge plans to develop an arsenal of nanotechnology weapons.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, potential weapons include tiny sensors that can be scattered on enemy territory, a so-called "intelligence wasp" or mini drone that can squeeze into narrow alleys, jam communications, photograph intelligence targets and even kill militants, and anti-suicide bomber sensors that can be installed in public places and apparently able to spot a bomber, based on scent, heat and weight.

While Israel may be the first to publicly acknowledge its military nanotech agenda, let's not forget that in the US 1 out of every 3 federal nanotech research dollars goes to military applications, as Michael Berger at Nanowerk points out.

"Of the $352m spent on nanotech by the DoD in 2005," he says, "$1m, or roughly 0.25%, went into research dealing with potential health and environmental risks. In 2006, estimated DoD nanotechnology expenditures will be $436m - but the risk-related research stays at $1m." (photo MIT)