by Aneri Shethji

Have you ever used a cell phone or tablet and wondered, “How does a small device fit so much information?” Well, nanotechnology is making up a huge part of how we store information in today’s day and age. Not only in the technological world, but even medicine also uses nanotechnology. But what is nanotechnology, and how will it help us?

A nanometer is one billionth of a meter in size, approximately 100,000 times smaller than the width of a piece of hair. Nanotechnology is the process of creating new objects on such a small scale, an area of science in which researchers look at incredibly small atoms to see how they can be combined and modified to make them accomplish fascinating and useful feats. Nanotechnology is one of the most intriguing and rapidly evolving fields of science today.

Scientists may now construct their own nanostructures by rearranging the atoms of an item, resulting in new nanomaterials with unique features. These scientists, called nanotechnologists, use special microscopes called scanning electron microscopes (SEM) to discover parts of molecules and see how they can rearrange these parts to create something more useful.

The most promising innovation involving nanotechnology is arguably the nanochip. A nanochip is an electrical circuit made up of nanometer-scale components. You’ve probably heard of microchips, but nanochips are even smaller! Because of its small size, a nanochip needs extreme dexterity to function effectively. Nanochips are still an important technology in electronics, despite their small size. They are little digital devices that can perform complicated tasks. They’re also a fraction of the size of a human hair. This implies they’re simple to store on phones and other mobile devices.

But nanochips aren’t just for storing large amounts of information in technological devices. They can even be lifesaving! Ohio State University researchers are working on a nanochip that can modify cells within the body. Tissue nanotransfection is a technique that can mend tissues and regenerate whole organs. This innovative technique is absolutely noninvasive and comfortable. Nanochips may be employed in surgical operations in coming years, such as cardiac valve replacement. We will hopefully be able to see nanotechnology give us even more benefits as time goes on and more innovations are developed.

Source:

“Home: National Nanotechnology Initiative.” Home | National Nanotechnology Initiative, https://www.nano.gov/ .

Chris Woodford. Last updated: December 25. “Nanotechnology: A Simple and Fun Introduction!” Explain That Stuff, 25 Dec. 2021, https://www.explainthatstuff.com/nanotechnologyforkids.html .

Scientific Peer Review by Alysia Mandato

Aneri Shethji:

Aneri Shethji is a 10th grader at North Allegheny Intermediate High School. She is very passionate about science and writing and enjoys getting involved with the community. In her free time, Aneri spends time with friends and family and loves getting outside. She can’t wait to learn more about all that science has to offer, and help others learn it too!