Down the Line: Extremely Small Material Offers Big Potential
Would you notice a nanotube if you met one? Probably not. Nanotubes are extremely thin--their diameter is about 10,000 times smaller than a human hairhollow cylinders made of carbon atoms. The tiny web of atoms can be twisted in various shapes to perform different functions.
Although nanotubes measure just several nanometers in width, their future potential is huge. Investment bankers and venture capitalists are pouring millions of dollars into various nano projects. Meanwhile, scientists in research laboratories are racing to find the next breakthrough that will commercialize the technology.