Nanotechnology has always fascinated me as a field that holds great promise and potential for the future. The origins of this exciting field can be traced back to Michael Faraday. It is true that exists several examples of the use of nanomaterials in the past, such as the Lycurgus cup (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycurgus_Cup), but was none until the famous “The Bakerian Lecture” in 1857 (https://doi.org/10.1098/rstl.1857.0011) where he started to begin exploring the relationship between the size of gold or other metals and their optical properties, and probably giving birth to what we call today nanotechnology. Several scientists came after Faraday as Richard Zsigmondy (Chemistry Nobel Prize in 1925) and Jean Baptiste Perrin (Physics Nobel Prize in 1926), which helped colloidal science advance and understanding. We cannot dismiss the contribution of Turkevich, Stevenson and Hillier in 1951 with their famous gold nanoparticle synthesis (https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/1951/DF/DF9511100055), which is still widely used nowadays. Almost a hundred years later, Richard Feynman’s seminal lecture “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” (delivered in 1959, https://web.pa.msu.edu/people/yang/RFeynman_plentySpace.pdf) proposed the possibility of manipulating individual atoms and molecules, which he believed would lead to a new era of technological innovation. Richard Feynman’s groundbreaking work on manipulating atoms and molecules paved the way for the development of nanotechnology. It inspired a new generation of scientists to explore the possibilities of working at the nanoscale.

It was not until the 1980s that K. Eric Drexler coined the term “nanotechnology” and introduced the concept of molecular manufacturing in his book “Engines of Creation”. It led to a surge of interest in the field and the exploration of new ways to manipulate matter at the nanoscale.

Over the years, advancements in imaging and microscopy technology have allowed scientists to study and manipulate matter at the nanoscale with greater precision, leading to the discovery of new materials and applications. Today, nanotechnology has found applications in many areas, including medicine, energy, and electronics.

The history of nanotechnology is a fascinating story of human and scientific progress. As we continue exploring this field, we must remain responsible in maximising its benefits while minimising potential risks.