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Nanosciences and nanotechnologies are a field of blooming technological applications, developed or manufactured at the nanoscale (a billionth of a meter). At this scale, matter shows new and unexpected properties. These may significantly differ from one case to the other, which results in a great diversity of different industrial applications, and eventually in very heterogeneous end-user products. As a matter of fact, the generic dimension of nanotechnologies, understood as a platform or enabling technology, drives their diversity, and potentially affects almost every industrial sector.

A 'clair-obscur' normativity. In French, Historians of art use it when they refer to an abrupt association of zones made out of very dark shadows together with dazzling lights, like da Caravaggio used to paint. It applies successfully to nanotechnologies, which points out to this set of technologies that are being developed at a billionth of a meter. At this scale, matter shows new and unexpected properties, which could potentially lead the way to numerous applications but how do we regulate it? Lacour's edited volume should be of interest to lawyers and regulators interested in this subject. It borrows this formula of the clair-obscur to characterize a fluctuating normative environment which surrounds nanotechnologies' development.