Nanotechnology is a branch of engineering that deals with technology 100 nanometres or smaller. It also works on the atomic and molecular level to develop and create new materials for everyday life.

Nanotechnology is used in sun cream, the sun cream contains both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, these both reflect UV rays, but allow absorb visible light. Since nanotechnology is used they are so small that they are invisible to the naked eye and leave no white marks like some sun creams do. Current research suggests that the nanoparticles can damage the skin, but there is not enough research to prove this so, nanotechnology is still used in sun cream. If it does affect our skin, it will change the amount of time we can spend in the sun with than sun cream.

Tennis uses nanotechnology, it is used in the rackets which allows the racket to be lighter, while stronger, and give the player more power and control. It is carbon nanotubes which help make the rackets more efficient, but it is also used in tennis balls. New tennis balls use nanotechnology in the inside of the ball, to maintain the air pressure inside the ball, as well as, allowing the ball to bounce at least twice, as long as standard tennis balls. The nanotechnology behind this is called the Air D-Fense Barrier. This new nanotechnology is also being applied to work in footballs, bicycle tyres as well as car and truck tyres.

It is especially beneficial in car and truck tyres as it offers the opportunity to reduce weight, improve fuel efficiency, improve pressure retention and reduce recycling and incineration costs. It also has possibilities for greater safety, which is very important in the car industry today.

Nanotechnology has many potential uses, especially in medicine. A company called CytImmune is testing a treatment uses gold nanoparticles which act as Trojan horses to deposit toxic anticancer drugs directly into tumour cells. If this is successful, the way which we treat cancer could change forever. This is an extremely effective method of killing the tumour cells and could save many lives every year if put into production.

A new product which is currently being tested is a nanocoating for windows, this coating reflects solar heat in the summer, to keep houses cool, and transmit it in winter to keep houses warm. This is a great new nanotechnology because it has a positive effect on the environment, saving you less electricity and on heating bills.

Nanotechnology is a get new area of engineering, allowing new materials to be created and has changed our understanding of engineering, more research needs to be put into looking at nanotechnology to see its capabilities, but also to see its side effects, once this research has been done, nanotechnology will change our lives forever.