We're entering a brave new world in the 21st century, where makeup "defies" one's advancing years, "self-cleaning" windows shed dirt when it rains, wound dressings have built-in antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties, composite building materials are stronger than ever before, and almost magical fabrics are being created for bulletproof vests, making them more flexible, yet stronger, with electrically conductive properties. On the horizon is toothpaste that automatically coats, protects, even rebuilds tooth enamel; electronics devices far smaller than even the tiniest CMOS technology; and maybe, someday, tiny robots capable of performing minor surgical procedures within the human body.

The key enabling factor in much of this is nanotechnology. Next week, "Nano Fever" hits the Bay Area full force in the form of the 2007 Industrial Physics Forum, an annual meeting sponsored by the American Institute of Physics. This year, the IPF takes place concurrently with the meeting of the American Vacuum Society. Its theme: nanotechnology in society and manufacturing.

That theme couldn't be more relevant, or timely. "Nanotechnology" is a broad umbrella term that describes any area of scientific research dealing with objects measured in nanometers (one billionth of a meter, the same size scale as individual atoms and molecules). At that scale, quantum effects hold sway, so materials have very different chemical and physical properties than they exhibit at larger scales -- which in turn can lead to some exciting and innovative new applications.

Some of those emerging applications are potentially very lucrative, and capable of revolutionizing our lives in unexpected ways. That's why nanotechnology has become big business, with private corporations pouring funds into nanotech-related research. And small wonder: The National Science Foundation estimates that nanotechnology could become a $1 trillion/year industry by 2015. The federal government is also investing heavily in nanotech R&D, most notably through the National Nanotechnology Initiative. Its growing prevalence has also sparked an ongoing debate about potential risks, societal impacts, and the need for well-established policies concerning nanotechnology.

But the real excitement of nanotechnology can still be found at the cutting edge of research. The IPF program will highlight the latest breakthroughs and prevailing issues across the broad spectrum of the nanotech enterprise. Keep watching this space all next week for breaking news about exciting new applications for nanoparticles, including their use in cancer diagnosis and treatment; an update on the challenges ahead for large-scale nano-manufacturing; recent progress on building nanoelectronic devices; and how nanotechnology can make cars more efficient, and help with environmental remediation.

Just to break up the straight session reportage, we'll also be featuring an occasional candid Daily Photo from the meeting; snippet bios of some of the people behind the nanotech revolution; occasional fun or informative links relating to nanotechnology; and complete coverage of the hugely popular "Frontiers in Physics" session that traditionally closes out the IPF conference. This year's topics include tabletop wakefield particle accelerators, neutron stars and black holes, and an early look at the latest breakthroughs in wireless non-radiative energy transfer, courtesy of Marin Soljacic of MIT.

In short, it's going to be an exciting and informative event, punctuated by all the colorful sights and sounds downtown San Francisco has to offer. Even if you can't be with us in person, I hope you tune in via the blogosphere!