Nanotechnology is the science of very small things. "Nano" means one-billionth, so nanotechnology deals with materials measured in a billionth of a meter. A nanometer is 1/80,000 the diameter of a human hair or approximately ten hydrogen atoms wide!

But nanotechnology is not just involved with small things. Nanotechnology is a multi-discipline science. It includes knowledge from biology, chemistry, physics and other disciplines.

Nanotechnology n
Basic research on man-made structures that:

• Have at least one dimension of less than 100 nanometers;
  
  
• Are designed through a process that exhibits fundamental control over the physical and chemical attributes of the structures; and
  
  
• Can be combined to form larger structures.
  

* This definition is attributed to Mihial Roco, senior advisor to the National Nanotechnology Initiative.

In most cases when people speak of nanotechnology they are really talking about scientific research. The term nanotechnology actually means nanoscience; nanotechnology is used because it is the more common expression.




Nanotechnology was first recognized on a broad scale after Nobel Laureate, Richard Feynman, presented his classic talk titled, "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom" to the American Physical Society in 1959 when discussing the changing nature of the field of physics. In 1988, Eric Drexler taught the first formal course in nanotechnology while a visiting scholar at Stanford University. There he suggested the possibility of nano-sized objects that were self-replicating robots or nanomachines that would roam the body killing cancer cells.

This field of investigation expanded over time, but changed dramatically when Rice University Professor Richard Smalley won the 1996 Nobel Prize for discovering a new form of carbon: a molecule of sixty carbon atoms. This supercarbon has become one of a growing number of building blocks for a new class of nano-sized products that include "smart" pharmaceuticals, electronic devices and high performance bulk materials.

The investigation into nanotechnology really began to accelerate about the turn of the century. A milestone may be defined by the publication of an entire issue of Scientific American that focused on nanotechnology in September 2001 and the combined June 15 and July 1 issues of Red Herring .

The scope of sciences important in nanotechnology is depicted in the logo used by NFT, the Texas nanotechnology research initiative. This diagram of three intersecting circles portrays the overlap of three fields of research: biosciences, electronics and materials. This diagram could have included other circles of technology or science - like chemistry, engineering, information technology or physics - but for simplification, it has been limited to three. In the diagram, the intersection of biosciences and electronics represents new classes of computer and electronic circuits that are smarter devices for surgery and other medical solutions. The intersection of electronics and materials represents new classes of computer and electronic circuits. The intersection of materials and biosciences represents a new class of chemicals and man-made pharmaceuticals that improve our lives. And, finally, the intersection of all three is nanotechnology : research into self-assembling, smart materials with myriad applications and far greater performance potential than existing materials and devices. But remember, nanotechnology can involve other scientific arenas, and it is not limited to those used in this example.

When scientists are examining things at the nanoscale, they find that materials operate differently than they do in our familiar world. Different electrical and physical interactions come into play at the nanoscale, so scientists need an understanding of many different disciplines when working in nanotechnology. A fusion of chemistry, physics and engineering, nanotechnology is the manipulation and assembly of material with atomic precision.

Traditionally, products are constructed by cutting or etching away material from substances to make them smaller. Nanotechnology takes something small and builds it from the ground up by adding to it. By developing materials at the molecular level, scientists can create new forms of matter that are stronger and more elastic, refract light differently, have different electrical characteristics, and even respond to their environment. These unique properties will help scientists use nanotechnology to generate scientific breakthroughs in electronics, life sciences and materials.

Nanotechnology solutions are already found in a range of commercial products. Nano clays improve the physical characteristics of plastics and provide ultra-hard coatings for eyeglasses. Life scientists are already using nanotechnology to advance healthcare. Unusual forms of matter called "quantum dots" help diagnose disease and discover new drugs. Even though there are many applications already in use, the real benefit will be in future products as the general use of nanomaterials expands.

In the future, nanotechnology will provide us with new solutions to face the world's greatest challenges. Fighting disease, saving lives, feeding the hungry, cleaning up our environment and exploring our solar system will seem less daunting as nanotechnology develops.