Nanotechnology
Definition
Engineering at the scale of atoms and molecules (1–100 nm) — where materials gain surprising new properties.
Technical definition
The manipulation of matter at 1–100 nm scales, where quantum effects and huge surface-to-volume ratios dominate. Applications: targeted drug delivery, stronger composites (carbon nanotubes), efficient catalysts, nanoelectronics.
Example
Sunscreen's transparent zinc oxide uses nanoparticles — same material as white lifeguard paste, but nano-sized particles scatter visible light far less.
Common confusion
Nanotechnology is not just ‘small technology’ — at the nanoscale, physics itself changes (quantum confinement, surface dominance). Shrinking a machine part and engineering at the nanoscale are fundamentally different enterprises.