ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces nanotechnology and emphasizes the fact that it is more related to the thermodynamic behavior of small systems than to the physical dimensions of a system. Nanotechnology, namely nanomedicine, was used even much earlier in human civilization, most probably unintentionally. Controlled by weather conditions, the tiny clusters of water in the clouds can grow into bigger and bigger clusters until they depart the nanodomain and enter the bulk domain again in the form of water droplets. The development and progress of any branch of science is a matter of probability. Three main ingredients have to exist; a vision or a theory, characterization and diagnostic techniques, and a material system, or in other words, building blocks for experimental verification. While nanoscale science and engineering will definitely play a major role in the future of human civilization, no one should suffer the illusion that it will provide solutions for all human-kind problems.
