Miquel Salmeron: Nanoscience—you've seen it heralded as the next big thing, a coming revolution in science and technology. It's all about science, engineering and technology at the atom-by-atom level (a nanometer is one billionth of a meter).

According to the Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy, "The development of [nanoscience] opens a dazzling array of possibilities for observing the functioning of living systems, modifying the fundamental properties of materials, and designing atomic-scale structures with entirely new properties, leading to fresh opportunities for advances in science and technology."

Dr. Miquel Salmeron will introduce us to this new research frontier. He'll discuss matter, properties of matter, and the control of matter—from atoms to "big" objects—and talk about current applications of the technology and the potential future of new materials.