Nanotech companies appear to be dropping the "nano" from their names as quickly as they can. In just the last week, Nanotechnologies, Inc. has changed its name to NovaCentrix, Applied Nanotechnologies, Inc. has changed its name to Xintek, and NanoPolaris has changed its name to Unidym.

Coincidence? I doubt it. After the Magic Nano turmoil, in which over 80 people were hospitalized with respiratory problems after using the nano-named cleanser (which turned out to contain no nanoparticles), I suspect many companies decided that having nano in their name was a liability.

Many European companies, still stinging from the rejection of GMOs, have long avoided advertising the role of nanotechnology in their firms and products. We'll see if this is the first wave of a US trend to dump the nano name.