Nanotechnology, a term coined from the Greek word ‘nano’ meaning ‘dwarf,’ is a field of research and innovation concerned with building structures and devices on the scale of atoms and molecules. A nanometer corresponds to a billionth of a meter, and nanotechnology revolves around the manipulation of matter at this incredibly small scale.
In 1959, physicist Richard Feynman introduced the concept of nanotechnology during a presentation titled “There’s Abundant Space at the Subatomic Scale.” However, it was not until the 1980s, with the development of the scanning tunneling microscope, that scientists were able to see individual atoms and manipulate them. Since then, nanotechnology has evolved rapidly and is now a cornerstone of technological innovation.
Nanotechnology is interdisciplinary, combining physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering elements. It has the potential to revolutionize a multitude of industries, from healthcare and electronics to environmental conservation and manufacturing.