Time Line of Nanotechnology
1959
Feyman gives after-dinner talk describing molecular machines building with atomic precision
1974 Taniguchi uses term "nano-technology" in paper on ion-sputter machining
1977 Drexler originates molecular nanotechnology concepts at MIT
1981 First technical paper on molecular engineering to build with atomic precision STM invented
1985 Bucky Ball discovered
1988 First university course
1989 IBM logo spelled in individual atoms. First national conference
1990 First nanotechnology journal Japan's STA begins funding nanotech projects
1993 First Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology awarded for modeling a hydrogen abstraction tool useful in nanotechnology First coverage of nanotech from White House” English creation” book given to Rice administration, stimulating first university nanotech center.
2000: President William Clinton signs off on funding for the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI).
2003: Jennifer West and Naomi Halas at Rice University develop gold nanoshells that can be used to destroy cancer cells without harming adjacent healthy tissue.
2004: The National Cancer Institute establishes the Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer.
2005: Researchers at IBM develop vertical nanowire transistors that can be used to produce more powerful microprocessors.
2006: Researchers at Rice University develop a low-cost method of using nanoparticles to remove arsenic in drinking water.
2008: Researchers at Berkeley discover negative refraction to bend light in materials made from nanowires, for use in developing optical lenses with much higher resolution than conventional lenses.
2008: Hewlett Packard announces the development of a switching memristor for use in computer memory and logic applications.
2010: Harvard University researchers demonstrate a nanoscale transistor to measure electrical activity in a human heart cell.
2011: Researchers at New York University and China's Nanjing University demonstrate an assembly-line method using nanorobots built from DNA strands.
In the future
Within 7 years: Techniques for medical diagnosis, targeted drug delivery, and targeted hypothermia (heat treatment) could reduce cancer to an easily detected and treatable illness.
Within 10 years: Techniques for medical diagnosis, targeted drug delivery and treatment could reduce heart disease to an easily detected and treatable illness.
1974 Taniguchi uses term "nano-technology" in paper on ion-sputter machining
1977 Drexler originates molecular nanotechnology concepts at MIT
1981 First technical paper on molecular engineering to build with atomic precision STM invented
1985 Bucky Ball discovered
1988 First university course
1989 IBM logo spelled in individual atoms. First national conference
1990 First nanotechnology journal Japan's STA begins funding nanotech projects
1993 First Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology awarded for modeling a hydrogen abstraction tool useful in nanotechnology First coverage of nanotech from White House” English creation” book given to Rice administration, stimulating first university nanotech center.
2000: President William Clinton signs off on funding for the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI).
2003: Jennifer West and Naomi Halas at Rice University develop gold nanoshells that can be used to destroy cancer cells without harming adjacent healthy tissue.
2004: The National Cancer Institute establishes the Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer.
2005: Researchers at IBM develop vertical nanowire transistors that can be used to produce more powerful microprocessors.
2006: Researchers at Rice University develop a low-cost method of using nanoparticles to remove arsenic in drinking water.
2008: Researchers at Berkeley discover negative refraction to bend light in materials made from nanowires, for use in developing optical lenses with much higher resolution than conventional lenses.
2008: Hewlett Packard announces the development of a switching memristor for use in computer memory and logic applications.
2010: Harvard University researchers demonstrate a nanoscale transistor to measure electrical activity in a human heart cell.
2011: Researchers at New York University and China's Nanjing University demonstrate an assembly-line method using nanorobots built from DNA strands.
In the future
Within 7 years: Techniques for medical diagnosis, targeted drug delivery, and targeted hypothermia (heat treatment) could reduce cancer to an easily detected and treatable illness.
Within 10 years: Techniques for medical diagnosis, targeted drug delivery and treatment could reduce heart disease to an easily detected and treatable illness.