During the Middle Ages, philosophers attempted to transmute base materials into gold in a process called alchemy. While their efforts proved fruitless, the pseudoscience alchemy paved the way to the real science of chemistry. Through chemistry, we learned more about the world around us, including the fact that all matter is composed of atoms. The types of atoms and the way those atoms join together determines a substance's properties.
Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary science that looks at how we can manipulate matter at the molecular and atomic level. To do this, we must work on the nanoscale -- a scale so small that we can't see it with a light microscope. In fact, one nanometer is just one-billionth of a meter in size. Atoms are smaller still. It's difficult to quantify an atom's size -- they don't tend to hold a particular shape. But in general, a typical atom is about one-tenth of a nanometer in diameter.
But the nanoscale is where it's at. That's because it's the scale of molecules. By manipulating molecules, we can make all sorts of interesting materials. But like the alchemists of old, we wouldn't make much headway in creating gold. That's because gold is a basic element -- you can't break it down into a simpler form.
We could make other interesting substances, though. By manipulating molecules to form in particular shapes, we can build materials with amazing properties. One example is a carbon nanotube. To create a carbon nanotube, you start with a sheet of graphite molecules, which you roll up into a tube. The orientation of the molecules determines the nanotube's properties. For example, you could end up with a conductor or a semiconductor. Rolled the right way, the carbon nanotube will be hundreds of times stronger than steel but only one-sixth the weight [source: NASA].
That's just one aspect of nanotechnology. Another is that materials aren't the same at the nanoscale as they are at larger scales. Researchers with the United States Department of Energy discovered in 2005 that gold shines differently at the nanoscale than it does in bulk. They also noticed that materials possess different properties of magnetism and temperature at the nanoscale [source: U.S. Department of Energy].
Because the science deals with the basic building blocks of matter, there are countless applications. Some seem almost mundane -- nanoparticles of zinc oxide in sunblock allow you to spread a transparent lotion on your skin and remain protected. Others sound like science fiction -- doctors are attempting to use the protein casings from viruses to deliver minute amounts of drugs to treat cancer. As we learn more about how molecules work and how to manipulate them, we'll change the world. The biggest revelations will come from the smallest of sources.
Learn more about nanotechnology by following the links on the next page.
Link:
What is nanotechnology? - HowStuffWorks
- Electronic Materials Company Cambrios Announces Closing $14.5 Million Round - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Europe's 'Extreme light infrastructure' project gears up for launch - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Industrial nanotechnology processes getting closer - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Konsultation zum Austria Nano-Aktionsplan - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Bewegungen von Viren auf Membranen live verfolgen - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Thailand Nanotechnology Conference on health, energy, environment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Samsung Intensifies Advanced Foundry Logic Process Development with New Semiconductor Research Center - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Infineon and TSMC to Jointly Develop 65nm Embedded Flash Process Technology For Automotive and Chip Card Applications - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Abraxis Health Dedicates State of the Art Nanotechnology and Biologics Facility in Phoenix, Arizona - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Beneq Announces The First Continous Mode Atomic Layer Deposition Research Tool - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- An electron microscope with glasses - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Give your opinion on the Nanotechnology Research Code of Conduct - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Presentations from the OECD Conference on the Potential Environmental Benefits of Nanotechnology - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- DFI Nanotechnology Expands Into China With Strategic Alliance in Hong Kong - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Pre-announcement: Call for proposals within 'Energy Efficiency with Nanotechnology' - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- This week in nanotechnology - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- New funding for development and deployment of UAlbany nanofabrication strategies - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Applied Materials Acquires the Assets of Advent Solar - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Advanced Researcher Grant 2009 an Nanowissenschaftlerin Luisa de Cola - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Ocean Optics Launches Dedicated OEM Website - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- New synthetic molecules trigger immune response to HIV and prostate cancer - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Computer predicts reactions between molecules and surfaces, with 'chemical precision' - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Austria showcases its nanotechnology initiative - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Nanocapsules for artificial photosynthesis - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Work begins on laboratory for world's strongest microscope - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- New cancer detection method with fluorescent silica beads - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Die Magnetisierung einzelner Atome manipulieren - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Novel nanoparticles could become a safer alternative to gene therapy delivered by viruses - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- DOE awards Argonne, partners more than $7 million for solar energy-related research projects - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Magnetic nanoparticles to simultaneously diagnose, monitor and treat - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Study of ultracold atoms proves theory about universal quantum mechanism - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- RUSNANO Supervisory Council approves nanostructured non-metallic coatings project - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Julian Wess Award for outstanding achievements in elementary particle and astroparticle physics - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- New Pegasus300 Sold to Leading French Research Institute for CMOS Packaging - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Soitec Expands Into the Fast Growing Solar Energy Market With the Acquisition of Concentrix Solar - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Students send microbe nanobiotechnology experiment on Space Shuttle Atlantis - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Photovoltaic cells to power biological nanorobots inside the body - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Environmental and human health impacts of nanotechnology - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Elusive 'hot' electrons captured in ultra-thin solar cells - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Light-generating transistors to power labs on chips - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Combining rare-earth clusters with traditional metal catalysts reveals secrets of chemical transformation - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Hexagon Expands Its Offering in the Vision Metrology Business - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Azaya Therapeutics Receives FDA Authorization to Start Phase I Cancer Trial - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Researchers engineer bacteria to turn carbon dioxide into liquid fuel - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Argonne creates green home for world-class nanotechnology research - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- The mechanism behind superinsulation may lead to new types of electronics - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Biosensors change color when they detect specific neural messages - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- First measurement of cancer biomarkers in whole blood - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- Nanoprobes hit targets in tumors, could lessen chemo side effects - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- EYP/energy group joins UAlbany NanoCollege's National Institute for Sustainable Energy - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- Scientists isolate new antifreeze molecule in Alaska beetle - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- Ocean Optics XR-Series Spectrometers Cover 200-1050 nm Wavelengths - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- All-in-one cancer-killing nanoparticle can be tracked in real time with MRI - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- Nanobodies modifizieren die Form und Funktion von Proteinen - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. to Join Leica Microsystems' Parent Company Board of Directors - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- France to invest billions in nanotechnology - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- AlphaRx Appoints President for its China Operations - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- Vistec Enters Into Electron-Beam Lithograpy Project With Moscow University - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- Record-breaking ultrasensitive spectrometer identifies trace gases in real time - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- NanoMech Receives Navy Contract to Develop Nanotechnology Lubricant - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- Heart cells display a behavior-guiding 'nanosense' on new lab-on-a-chip - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- New curriculum mixes nanotechnology and skiing - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- Rexahn and TheraTarget Form Nanotechnology Research Collaboration - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- Unidym Enters Agreement to Integrate Carbon Nanotube Films Into LCDs - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- Carl Zeiss Meditec Closes Financial Year on a High - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- The Scott Partnership Appointed to Launch Innovative New Printed Electronics Business - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- New Centre for Molecular Epidemiology to put bacteria on the world map - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- New nanotechnology association established to address 21st century natural resource and energy security challenges - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- Analysis of information gathering initiatives on manufactured nanomaterials - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- OECD publishes manufactured nanomaterials roadmap 2010 - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- New imaging technique allows quick evaluation of graphene sheets - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- National Institute of Standards and Technology invests up to $71 million in new manufacturing, infrastructure research and development - December 16th, 2009 [December 16th, 2009]
- Southwest Nanotechnologies Recieves Two Prestigious Research Grants To Deveop A New Generation of Carbon Nanotubes - December 16th, 2009 [December 16th, 2009]
- Nanolithographic technique allows multiple chemicals on a single chip - December 16th, 2009 [December 16th, 2009]
- Study documents puzzling movement of electricity-producing bacteria near energy sources - December 16th, 2009 [December 16th, 2009]
- Erstmals Daten aus lebenden Zellen: Optisches Verfahren misst molekulare Reaktionszeiten - December 16th, 2009 [December 16th, 2009]
- New Constant Diameter NeedleProbes with Unique Ability to Measure Liquid Surface Properties by AFM - December 16th, 2009 [December 16th, 2009]
- Chemical Nanotechnology Talks X: Green nano - challenges of sustainability - December 16th, 2009 [December 16th, 2009]
- Patents Issued for Licensed PAL-M Super-resolution Technology - December 16th, 2009 [December 16th, 2009]
- International Network CONTACT researches the use of carbon nanotubes in various applications - December 16th, 2009 [December 16th, 2009]