Open AccessNanogeoscience: From the movement of electrons to lithosphere plates
Author(s) -
Lower Steven K.,
Hochella Michael F.,
Banfield Jillian F.,
Rosso Kevin M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2002eo000036
Subject(s) - pride , scale (ratio) , nanotechnology , politics , planet , space (punctuation) , earth science , engineering physics , astrobiology , engineering , geology , political science , geography , physics , materials science , cartography , astronomy , computer science , law , operating system
Researchers of nano‐scale science explore the workings of nature in the dimensional space spanning a single nanometer (nm) to about 100 nm. While geoscientists pride themselves on looking at very large‐scale, highly complex processes, the origins of nearly all things geologic are rooted deeply in nanoscale phenomena. The near surface of the Earth is composed of what has been conservatively estimated as 10 30 square nm of inorganic and biological surfaces [ Hochella and White , 1990; Whitman et al. , 1998]. These two types of surfaces have been interacting for over 3 billion years on our planet. A growing number of geoscientists, supported by U.S. agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF),the Departments of Energy and Defense, and even the National Institutes of Health, are embracing the intricate nano‐scale world and helping to forge the frontiers of nanoscience through geological studies.