Nanoscience is the science that deals with substances smaller than 100 nanometer (nm) in size. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter, and the diameter of human hair is about 50,000 nm. Nanotechnology is the technology of designing, fabricating and applying nanosystems, which are systems synthesized on the nanometer scale.

Nanoelectronics is the work done on the smallest of electronic devices. Working at smaller and smaller levels means more applications in almost all electronic areas. Almost all the pioneers of infotech and electronics business are involved in serious work in nanoelectronics.

The future of electronics and computing is supported by nanotechnology. Just imagine hard drives capable of holding 1000 times as much data than those used in computers today. Nanotechnology has the potential to make smaller and faster computers with larger memories than the current processes of making transistors and other components permit.

Here are some of the applications currently developed:

• Fabric coated with nanotech engineered molecules that shed stains.
• A Smart Shirt, which has tiny microscopic sensors interwoven into the fabric that reads heart rate, body temperature, and insulin levels.
• A golf ball whose rotational speed is reduced through the use of nanomaterials.
• A sock that can absorb odor through imbedded nanoparticles of silver embedded in the cloth. These particles can break down agents in your sweat that leave behind nasty foot odor.
• Washing machines that don’t become unbalanced. Through the use of MEMS, micro-electrical mechanical machines, an ultrasensitive accelerometer can provide constant feedback to the washing machine to create an “intelligent spin” cycle.
   
• A monitoring system that the U.S. Postal Service will use in helping to detect anthrax.
• A therapeutic substance delivery device that uses MEMS to deliver, for instance, cancer treatment agents.

Nanotechnology is at the nexus of the sciences, where life sciences, materials science, and electronics meet. Nanotechnology has been called the next new technology wave, one that will revolutionize scientific innovation.