Introduction to Nanotechnology

A good definition of nanotechnology:

"Nanotechnology refers to the manipulation of atoms and molecules at the level of the nanometer (one billionth of a meter). It is at this scale that quantum physics takes over from classical physics and the properties of elements change character in novel and unpredictable ways. " (nanotechnology as defined by the ETC Group)


If you are looking for a great introduction to nanotechnology, I would highly recommend you see the 80 page report called "The Big Down: Atomtech - Technologies Converging at the Nano-scale" This report is available for free in PDF format. I enjoyed the first few pages so much that I actually printed out the whole report on my printer for more leisurely reading.

What is so great about The Big Down as an introduction to nanotechnology is that the report really grasps the big picture. It not only leads you through what the nanotechnology industry and research look like today, but it provides a very entertaining (and sometimes frightening) read of what the huge implications will be on our society and economy.

If you want a quicker overview they also provide a shorter introduction to nanotechnology; A Tiny Primer on Nano-scale Technologies

The ETC Group is a non-profit research group worth watching.

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The Goo cartoon above was borrowed from their website.