Nano Days occurs during the last weekend in March and continues through the first weekend in April. It’s a nationwide celebration that features a litany of educational programs.

These educational programs focus on nanotechnology, the science behind it, and how it’s likely to impact all of our futures. During this week, special events are held at hundreds of different research centers, universities, and science museums across the United States.

For those people who aren’t familiar with nanotechnology, let us give a quick explanation of what it is. Nanotechnology is basically a technology that is developed at an extremely small scale, and this can include dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometers — or about the width of a strand of DNA.

The History of Nano Days

This holiday week was first established in 2008 by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network, or NISE Net for short. The first event was hosted by Dr. Gail Jones that year in North Carolina.

She was a professor of science education at North Carolina State University. Since this holiday week’s inception, it has continued to grow and is now observed by almost 300 institutions across the United States.

Some Amazing Facts About Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is extremely amazing, and to illustrate that point, we have listed the following facts about nanotechnology below. Let’s take a look at the following bullet points and find out how nanotechnology might impact our futures.

• Nano-tube sheets are being used to create an invisibility cloak.
• Carbon nanotubes are also used to make bulletproof suits.
• Nanotechnology could one day be used for a possible cancer cure.
• Nanotechnology is being developed that can convert our heartbeats into energy that could be used by devices embedded in our clothing.

Observing Nano Days

Aside from visiting the Nano Days website or Facebook page to get more information, there is a wide range of events people can participate in this week. Many science museums will host special Nano Days programs in which people can participate.

People can also learn more about the nanotechnology that already exists in common household products such as clothing, furniture, and sunscreens. And, of course, people can use the hashtag #NanoDays to spread the word about this holiday online.