What is it?

Nanoscience is a broad term used for the study of materials and/or processes at the nanoscale in a variety of disciplines (see Figure 1 for how big a nanometer is). Biology, chemistry, and physics have all independently converged into nanoscientific research areas, ranging from understanding intracellular processes to chemical interactions to the production of new materials.

Nanotechnology is the creation of useful and functional materials, devices and systems (of any size) through control and manipulation of novel phenomena and properties of matter at the atomic or molecular scale. Building molecule by molecule, or bottom up, is the realm of nanotechnology.