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Nanotechnology

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Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at dimensions of roughly 1 to 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications according to the National Technology Initiative.

Nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulating matter at this length scale. At the nanoscale, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of materials differ in fundamental and valuable ways from the properties of individual atoms and molecules or bulk matter.

Nanotechnology: Societal Implications—Maximizing Benefits for Humanity reflects the views of experts who gathered at a workshop in 2003 to discuss likely impacts of current and future advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology on the economy, quality of life, national security, education, public policy, and society at large.