Numbers, scale and symbols: the public understanding of nanotechnology

The authors of this article identify one barrier to the public understanding of nanotechnology as the difficulty often experienced by members of the public in grasping the size scale and symbolism of nanotechnology, or the problem of making the leap from the macro to the nanoscale (one nanometer equals one-billionth of a meter). The authors discuss some educational programs and materials that seek to address this issue, and look at how ball and stick models can be used to present both useful symbolism in understanding nanotechnology, but also as a way to help promote an understanding of atomic scale.