This title demystifies the topic for investors, business executives, and anyone interested in how molecule-sized machines and processes can transform our lives. Along with dispelling common myths, it covers nanotechnology's origins, how it will affect various industries, and the limitations it can overcome. This handy book also presents numerous applications such as scratch-proof glass, corrosion resistant paints, stain-free clothing, glare-reducing eyeglass coatings, drug delivery systems, medical diagnostic tools, burn and wound dressings, sugar-cube-sized computers, mini-portable power generators, even longer-lasting tennis balls, and more. Nanotechnology is the science of matter at the scale of one-billionth of a meter or 1/75,000th the size of a human hair Written in the accessible, humorous For Dummies style, this book demystifies nanotechnology for investors, business people, and anyone else interested in how molecule-sized machines and processes will soon transform our lives Investment in nanotechnology is exploding, with $3.7 billion in nanotechnology R&D spending authorized by the U.S. government in 2003 and international investment reported at over $2 billion

Richard Booker is a doctoral student at Rice University working under Dr. Richard Smalley, discoverer of the buckyball. He was lucky enough to get an outstanding education, starting with four intense years at Boston University earning a computer-engineering degree. After college, he joined the Air Force, where he managed weapon systems and researched battlespace networks while simultaneously working on his master’s degree in computer engineering.
After four years, Captain Booker left the wild blue yonder to pursue his Ph.D. in applied physics at Rice and delve into the “new” world of nanotechnology. Rich’s next ambitious adventure will be developing the armchair quantum wire (see Chapters 4 and 5 of this book) and helping to bring other nanoapplications to market. His interests include flying, skydiving, scuba diving, music, art, movies and, in his spare time, working on being humble.

Earl Boysen is an engineer who, after 20 years in the computer-chip industry, decided to “slow down” and move to a quiet town in Washington. Earl is the co-author of Electronics For Dummies, and holds degrees in chemistry and physics. He lives in a house he designed and built himself, and keeps as busy as ever writing, acting, teaching math and science, dancing, and walking.