To date, the real world applications of nanotechnology have been somewhat limited in scope: stronger sunscreens, better cosmetics and stain-resistant fabric.
Yet in the coming years the great promise of this groundbreaking $4 billion industry will begin to pay major dividends and dramatically redefine the fields of electronics, medicine and energy production, scientists say. These impending advancements will not just improve the quality of life, but help researchers unravel the mysteries of how intricate atomic properties act and interact, Rosalyn Berne, a University of Virginia professor, told an audience Sunday during a nanotechnology “open house” and as part of the Virginia Festival of the Book.