The basic measuring unit of nanoscience
is the nanometer, which equals the width of three atoms.
Ten nanometers is 10,000 times smaller than the diameter
of a strand of human hair or 1,000 times smaller than
an ordinary living cell.
Operating at this scale allows scientists to prepare
smart objects that can invade small spaces and target
specific parts of the body, such as the brain and even
a precise part of a single cell. It also permits the creation
of ever smaller computer chips that can be incorporated
into a wide variety of devices.
