I have been reading about companies that invest in nanotechnology, and after carefully looking at various definitions, I still do not understand what it is.

Would anyone like to add to my tiny store of knowledge on the subject?

The term probably gets abused to the level of 'buzzword' status because it's actual definition is pretty vague. In the most literal sense, it involves any engineering that goes on at the "nano" level (100 nanomters or smaller, I believe).

I think that the more appropos idea is that it is the science/discipline of constructing things at the molecular level. An inclusive (but not all inclusive) list might have engineering molecules to help fight disease, creating specific kinds of fibers to exhibit various desirable properties, enhancements to computing technology on chips, etc.

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Thanks - that's helpful. It is a much broader term than I realized and that helps explain why I have come across so many references to so many different fields: medicine, computers, chemicals, industrial research, etc.

Actually, the standard for nanotechnology is always led by the computer field! At first, (when computers finally became "affordable" [as in the several thousand dollar range instead of the several million dollar range]) they relied on the 250nm size! Then, the standard moved to the 180nm, 120nm, 90nm, 65nm and finally, the 45nm die size! Only now is each area of study and research starting to have it's own standard but they all take their principles from the computer technology area! In that area, 2010 will bring the 40nm, 32nm as well as possibly the 22nm die size IBM, Toshiba and Sony all have plans to make the Cell BE in the 32nm die size next year with 2011 and 2012 being the years that they move to the 22nm and 16nm die sizes respectively! Of course, none of this is official since a lot of companies are now finding it increasingly difficult to produce anything once they break through the 65nm threshold!

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