What is the smallest piece of technology you can imagine? As small as a grain of rice? Or a grain of sand? Perhaps the width of an individual strand of spider web? Smaller still.

Nanotechnology is so small that it is actually narrower than a single wavelength of visible light. To put this into perspective, this is the length of your nails since you started reading this overview.

But when we talk about nanotechnology, we are not talking about a circuit board, but about the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes.

By using carbon nanotubes in a certain way, it is possible to create tiny computer chips. Small chips come with small computers and small robots. And with tiny robots – or nanobots, if you prefer – a whole world of possibilities opens up… 3D printers, invisibility cloaks, space elevators – you name it!

Of course, all exciting, experimental and potentially disruptive innovations come with concerns. What impact could such technology have on our security or the economy? How can we regulate it?

Find out more in this iluli explainer video by Mike Lamb – explaining the ideas and innovations that are changing our lives.

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*Sources and further reading:*

• _Carbon nanotechnology in a 17th century Damascus sword:_ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/carbon-nanotechnology-in-an-17th-century-damascus-sword
• _What is nanotechnology?_ https://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/what/definition
• _Nanotechnology and you: benefits and applications:_ https://www.nano.gov/you/nanotechnology-benefits
• _How carbon nanotubes built this strange ultrablack material:_ https://theverge.com/2019/8/20/20813054/vantablack-ultrablack-black-material-surrey-nanosystems-carbon-nanotubes-science-materials

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