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Nanoscience
Science at the Atomic Scale

Nanoscience photo

Nanoscience is the science of the extremely small. How small? A nanometer is a millionth of a millimeter – about the size of some big single molecules such as the protein enzymes in our bodies. For perspective, a red blood cell is about six thousand nanometers across and a human hair is typically 20,000-100,000 nanometers.

So nanoscience is indeed science at extremely small scales. But why is this important? The incredible advances in computer power come largely from making the transistors of microelectronic circuits ever smaller. In medicine, advances at the nanoscale let us make interventions at the natural size scale of living cells themselves. Ultimately, mastering how to build things at the scale of atoms and molecules may allow us to start mimicking some of the clever things that nature achieves with her own “natural nanotechnology,” which may lead to finding better and cheaper ways of harvesting sunlight for energy, or detecting and eliminating pollutants in water and air.

The Kavli Prize in Nanoscience

The Kavli Prize in Nanoscience is awarded for outstanding achievement in the science and application of the unique physical, chemical and biological properties of atomic, molecular, macromolecular, and cellular structures and systems that are manifest in the nanometer scale, including molecular self-assembly, nanomaterials, nanoscale instrumentation, nanobiotechnology, macromolecular synthesis, molecular mechanics and related topics.

2022

David L. Allara
Ralph G. Nuzzo
Jacob Sagiv
George Whitesides

For self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on solid substrates: molecular coatings to control surface properties.

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2020

Harald Rose
Maximilian Haider
Knut Urban
Ondrej L. Krivanek

For sub-ångström resolution imaging and chemical analysis using electron beams.

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2018

Emmanuelle Charpentier
Jennifer A. Doudna
Virginijus Šikšnys

For the invention of CRISPR-Cas9, a precise nanotool for editing DNA, causing a revolution in biology, agriculture, and medicine.

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2016

Gerd Binnig
Christoph Gerber
Calvin Quate

For the invention and realization of atomic force microscopy, a breakthrough in measurement technology and nanosculpting that continues to have a transformative impact on nanoscience and technology.

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2014

Thomas W. Ebbesen
Stefan W. Hell
Sir John B. Pendry

For their transformative contributions to the field of nano-optics that have broken long-held beliefs about the limitations of the resolution limits.

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2012

Mildred S. Dresselhaus

For her pioneering contributions to the study of phonons, electron-phonon interactions, and thermal transport in nanostructures.

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2010

Donald M. Eigler
Nadrian C. Seeman

For their development of unprecedented methods to control matter on the nanoscale.

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2008

Louis E. Brus
Sumio Iijima

For their large impact in the development of the nanoscience field of the zero and one-dimensional nanostructures in physics, chemistry, and biology.

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