Discoveries in nanotechnology will lead to unprecedented understanding and control over the fundamental building blocks of all physical things. Nanotechnology is the science of the small, but it holds the promise of making extraordinary changes in virtually every facet of life. The possibilities are endless, enticing, and ready to be exploited: leaps in efficiency of energy consumption, highly specific drug delivery, and intelligent protective materials are only a few examples of what can be accomplished with nanotech polymer material science.