![A drop of water on a lotus leaf](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/splashy_hero_large/public/2021-03/i-ZNVXBnz-O.jpg?h=c0b0b879&itok=rFKQwqXI)
What is Nano?
A nanometer is a billionth of a meter. That’s really tiny! Nanometers are used to measure things that are too small to see, like atoms and molecules, the basic building blocks of our world.
![Learners looking at a nano experiment](/sites/default/files/styles/copy_50/public/2021-03/i-zJ9Btjn-X5.jpg?itok=_ZhWWolh)
Nanoscale science focuses on things that are measured in nanometers. In the field of nanotechnology, scientists and engineers make new materials and tiny devices. Nanotechnology allows them to make things like smaller, faster computer chips and new medicines to treat diseases like cancer.
Nanotechnologies include new materials and tiny devices so small they’re sometimes built from individual atoms and molecules!
Nanotechnology takes advantage of special properties at the nanoscale to create new materials and devices.
Videos on Nanoscale Science and Nanotechnology Topics
See all Nanotechnology Educational Videos![A photo showing the 1 centimeter width of a finger](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/4767/Screen_shot_2010-06-09_at_1.35.57_PM.png?itok=IVlEDwVk)
How Small is Nano? video
![Person in full personal protective equipment puts on a white cleanroom suit](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/4768/Nanoscientist_dressing_lores.jpg?itok=UkA58VLJ)
What Happens in a Nano Lab?
![Person looking closely at a cup filled with dirty water](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/12005/screen_shot_2013-09-18_at_1.07.24_pm.png?itok=-OxbhvBp)
What’s Nano About Water?
![Teen girl with braces in a pink shirt holds a large kale leaf](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2024-03/screenshot_2024-03-04_at_3.33.43_pm.png?h=998a70ec&itok=PZB_JqxB)
What’s Nano About Toilets?
![Woman smelling chocolate](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/12008/screen_shot_2013-09-18_at_1.07.59_pm.png?itok=_1Fj-1B0)
What’s Nano About Chocolate?
![Lady in pink shirt stands in the path of a cluster of bubbles](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/12007/screen_shot_2013-09-18_at_1.07.49_pm.png?itok=Pu_72Awv)
What’s Nano About Bubbles?
![A photoshopped image of people wearing invisibility cloaks hiding everything but their legs](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/11944/screen_shot_2013-08-29_at_12.49.41_pm.png?itok=LK6tkV9N)
Invisibility Cloak video
![What is Nanomedicine video and interactive graphic](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/about/nanomed_vid_2_3.jpg?itok=OOKIW_CZ)
Intro to Nanomedicine video
![](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/9073/butterfly_rep_image.png?itok=Jo7NLStT)
Zoom into a Blue Morpho Butterfly video
![Close up magnified image of a microchip](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/10831/2000x.jpg?h=96dfc06c&itok=ZbfAIMs-)
Zoom into a Microchip video
![A lotus leaves in a small, man-made concrete pond.](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/9072/lotus_leaf_rep_image.png?h=102304da&itok=MqxUhi7C)
Zoom into a Lotus Leaf video
![A person holding an ice cream cone with the text "NANO: I've never had that problem."](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/8901/nano_and_me_screen_shot_2012_0.png?itok=D9KQsy3Q)
Nano and Me Videos
Videos on Nanotechnology and Society
![Two actors looking into a mirror having a conversation](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/8614/ww_0.png?itok=Vc_Eyz1u)
Wonders and Worries of Nanotechnology
![](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/10759/who_benefits.png?itok=PfqiCaDY)
Wonders and Worries of Nanotechnology: Who Benefits
![](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/10758/regulation_0.png?itok=MyoRtqF4)
Wonders and Worries of Nanotechnology: Regulation
![](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/10760/ask.png?itok=3dWHtqhf)
Wonders and Worries of Nanotechnology: Ask and Research
Same Sides and Let's Talk About It videos
![A black and white photo of three people sitting at a table having an intense discussion](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/10930/screen_shot_2012-09-18_at_2.23.05_pm.png?itok=-5_Xnzzo)
Three Angry Scientists
![Research taking a water sample](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/8921/silver_video.png?itok=40k0gbWh)
Does Every Silver Lining Have a Cloud?
![An illustrated human half submerged in a water](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/12328/screen_shot_2013-12-28_at_8.29.33_am.png?itok=or_32bBb)
Changing Our Relationship With Science video
What is NanoDays?
![NanoDays logo square](/sites/default/files/styles/copy_50/public/2020-12/nanodays%20square-01.png?itok=RxqECRL_)
NanoDays is a nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering and its potential impact
on the future. NanoDays events are organized by participants in the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Network) and take place at more than 200 science and children's museums, research centers and universities across the country from Puerto Rice to Hawaii. NanoDays engages people of all ages in learning about this emerging field of science, which holds the promise of developing revolutionary materials and technologies.
While several communities conducted NanoDays events in prior years, the first nationwide week of events took place in 2008 with more than 100 institutions participating. This has grown to more than 200 events annually nationwide.
- List of institutions hosting an event in the United States in 2008-2015
- More about NanoDays (hands on activities, training materials, promotional materials)
Do-It-Yourself Nano Activities
![Two children applying sunblock onto a slip of black construction paper](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/9881/sunblock.png?h=c13c8e3d&itok=T75Cyhzn)
DIY Nano: printable PDF version
![Cover of a book labeled DIY Nano](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/DIY%20Nano%20pic_0.png?h=aade0531&itok=UAu_r_Ez)
DIY Nano Book
![DIY Nano logo](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/10184/diy_nano.jpg?itok=eue71qlG)
DIY Nano App - iPad version
Nano Children's Books
!["How Small is Nano?" with five images of various cells and a ruler just below](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/about/How_Small_is_Nano.png?h=370c9e7d&itok=2DIctLsZ)
How Small Is Nano? Book and Poster
![Image showing an illustration of a Mars rover](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/about/Rover.png?itok=CqQxsPg9)
Is That Robot Real? children's book and poster
![Cover to a book called Alice in Nanoland featuring a girl with blonde hair, a green shirt and purple skirt](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/5526/screen_shot_2010-12-17_at_12.41.48_pm.png?itok=B5Dx0Wcq)
Alice In NanoLand
Nano Exhibition and Zoom into Nano Toolkit Information
![Birdseye view of Nano exhibition with visitors.](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-12/hero%20Nano%20exhibition%20birdseye%20IMG_5808.jpg?h=30c08e7f&itok=M-bD2Iwg)
Nano Mini-Exhibition
![Audio description AD symbol](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/audio-description_symbol.img_assist_properties.jpg?itok=7sX4rlgT)
What is Nano? - Audio Description
![Educator and group of children learning about self assembly using Gummy Capsules NanoDays activity](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-12/hero%20image%20explore%20zoom%20into%20nano%20gummy%2020100815GH_1009.jpg?h=4250f7eb&itok=ioOz7OmA)
Explore Science: Zoom into Nano Kit