Hobbies And Interests
Nano Units
The nano prefix can be used with any metric unit. Nanometers are used to specify wavelengths in the part of the electromagnetic spectrum close to visible light, or to express dimensions on the atomic scale; for example, the diameter of a single helium atom can be expressed as 0.1 nanometers. Nanoseconds are used to measure very fast events, such as the time it takes light to travel a short distance or the cycle time of a high frequency waveform. Electronic components with very small values may be measured in nano units.
The Nanoscopic Scale
The nanoscopic scale, also called the nanoscale, is usually cited as dealing with structures on the scale of 1 to 100 nanometers. It marks, approximately, the boundary at which it is no longer possible to discuss the properties or behavior of a material or structure without having to consider the interactions of individual atoms.
Nanomaterials
Nanomaterials are materials with morphological, or form-based, properties on the nanoscale. Examples include carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles. Nanomaterials can behave very differently to ordinary materials. In particular, nanomaterials have a very large surface area in relation to their total volume. Because the nanoscale is close to the atomic scale, quantum physics begins to affect the behavior of some materials. This is especially important in electronics, as the behavior of electronic materials and components may be very different at the nanoscale because of quantum effects.
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the field of working with nanomaterials and engineering on the nanoscale. Concepts associated with nanotechnology include nanobots, tiny devices that are typically less than 100 nanometers in length, and molecular assemblers, manufacturing units that can build items molecule by molecule. Nanotechnology has profound implications for many areas of science from computing to medicine.
Nanoplankton and Other Microorganisms
Nanoplankton are tiny sea-dwelling organisms. They include diatoms and other forms of algae. Most are single-celled organisms although some can form colonies. They form a very important part of the food chain. Nanofossils are fossils left by ancient single-celled organisms. Other microorganisms have been postulated as existing at the nanoscale, but not all of these are confirmed to exist. Examples include nanobes, minute filamental structures that are found in rocks and sediments; there is an ongoing debate as to whether they are living or not.