Tiny Tech #1: What is Nanotechnology?

Today from the world of Tiny Tech:

Let’s talk small, really small. The field of nanotechnology deals with objects that incredibly tiny: smaller than 100 nanometers in size. How small is that? Well, it’s a thousand times smaller than the width of a human hair.

Today, nanotechnology is responsible for billions of dollars in worldwide product sales. For example, many sunscreens include nanometer-size particles of titanium oxide or zinc oxide because they block ultraviolet light but – unlike the thick white creams of the past – are invisibly transparent when rubbed onto the skin. Nanometer-size particles of silver are very effective at killing bacteria, and are used in certain antimicrobial shampoos, toothpastes, detergents, and clothing. Other nanotechnology has given us more powerful and longer lasting batteries, and stronger and lighter materials for cars and tennis rackets. And in the future, computers could be much more powerful if the transistors inside them are made smaller by using nanotechnology.

So in nanotechnology, the key to success - is to keep your eye on the small.

Tiny Tech is made possible by the National Science Foundation and WUFT. To learn more about Tiny Tech, go to tinytechradio.org.

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