Nanotechnology is the science of the extremely tiny. It involves the study and use of materials on an unimaginably small scale. Nano refers to a nanometre (nm). One nanometre is a millionth of a millimetre or about one eighty thousandth the width of a human hair.
Nanotechnology describes many diverse technologies and tools, which dont always appear to have much in common! Therefore it is better to talk about nanotechnologies, in the plural.
One thing that all nanotechnologies share is the tiny dimensions that they operate on. They exploit the fact that, at this scale, materials can behave very differently from when they are in larger form. Nanomaterials can be stronger or lighter, or conduct heat or electricity in a different way. They can even change colour; particles of gold can appear red, blue or gold, depending on their size.
These special attributes are already being used in a number of ways, such as in making computer chips, CDs and mobile phones. But researchers are progressively finding out more about the nanoscale world and aim to use nanotechnologies to create new devices that are faster, lighter, stronger or more efficient.
Nanotechnologies are widely seen as having huge potential in areas as diverse as healthcare, IT and energy storage. Governments and businesses across the world have started to invest substantially in their development. However, alongside this excitement some people have started to ask how these technologies will contribute to shaping the world we live in.