---
title: "How the 2023 Nobel Prize for Chemistry Captures the Transformative Promise of Nanotechnology"
subtitle: "Today's Nobel Prize for Chemistry goes to a trio of scientists for their pioneering work on quantum dots -- a foundational pillar of modern nanotechnology"
author: "Andrew Maynard"
date: 2023-10-05
original: https://www.futureofbeinghuman.com/p/2023-nobel-prize-for-chemistry
mirror: https://text.futureofbeinghuman.com/substack/2023-nobel-prize-for-chemistry.html
---

# How the 2023 Nobel Prize for Chemistry Captures the Transformative Promise of Nanotechnology

*Today's Nobel Prize for Chemistry goes to a trio of scientists for their pioneering work on quantum dots -- a foundational pillar of modern nanotechnology*

By Andrew Maynard · October 5, 2023 · [Original post](https://www.futureofbeinghuman.com/p/2023-nobel-prize-for-chemistry)

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*[Image: Image: Midjourney — [view image](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/1800abd5-e3b6-4e4b-acf4-05f8c2f0538e_2688x1536.png)]*

You know it’s going to be an interesting day when you get a message at 5:45 AM asking if you are up for writing an article about a breaking news story — with just four hours before a near-final draft is due!

That was me this morning — as the people I had early meetings scheduled with discovered rather fast! On a normal day I’d probably have skipped on the challenge. But this wasn’t a normal day.

The breaking news was the announcement that the 2023 Nobel Prize had been awarded to three scientists [for their work on quantum dots](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2023/press-release/) — [Moungi Bawendi](https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8086TkwAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao), [Louis Brus](https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=GT0oh5QAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao) and [Alexei Ekimov](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2023/ekimov/facts).

This is a technology that was a big part of my work around developing nanotechnology responsibly and beneficially over a decade ago. It’s also something I’ve written about before. And so — despite my better judgement — I decided to accept the challenge, tight deadlines and all.

The article was for [The Conversation](https://theconversation.com/us) and I’m pleased to say that, with the help of a stellar editor, we got it out with time to spare.

The published article can be read at the link below:

[Link to article](https://theconversation.com/quantum-dots-are-part-of-a-revolution-in-engineering-atoms-in-useful-ways-nobel-prize-for-chemistry-recognizes-the-power-of-nanotechnology-215015)

Rather than summarize it here, it’s worth hopping over to The Conversation and reading it in full — especially as it explores the connection between quantum dots and “base coding” which I suspect is an angle you won’t find elsewhere.

Enjoy!

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*This Markdown file is a text-only version of “How the 2023 Nobel Prize for Chemistry Captures the Transformative Promise of Nanotechnology” by Andrew Maynard, from The Future of Being Human (<https://www.futureofbeinghuman.com>). The original post at <https://www.futureofbeinghuman.com/p/2023-nobel-prize-for-chemistry> is the canonical version. Images, video, audio and interactive elements are indicated inline and available in the original. © Andrew Maynard.*