Richard Feynman: Often considered the visionary who inspired the field, Feynman's 1959 lecture "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom" laid the conceptual foundation for nanotechnology. He discussed the possibility of manipulating individual atoms and molecules, a concept that was revolutionary at the time.
K. Eric Drexler: Known as the father of molecular nanotechnology, Drexler popularized the idea of building machines at the molecular scale through his book "Engines of Creation" (1986). He introduced concepts like molecular assemblers and nanorobots, which have influenced research and ethical discussions in the field.
Sumio Iijima: A Japanese physicist who discovered carbon nanotubes in 1991. Carbon nanotubes have unique properties that make them essential in various nanotechnology applications, including electronics, materials science, and medicine.
Don Eigler: A physicist at IBM, Eigler was the first person to manipulate individual atoms using a scanning tunneling microscope. In 1989, he spelled out "IBM" with 35 xenon atoms, demonstrating precise control at the atomic level.
Richard Smalley: Co-discoverer of fullerenes (buckyballs), for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996. His work opened new avenues in nanomaterials and helped establish nanotechnology as a significant field of study.
James Tour: A chemist renowned for his work in molecular electronics and nanomachines. Tour has developed nanoscale cars and has contributed extensively to graphene research.
Given their groundbreaking work and foundational contributions to nanotechnology, any of these scientists might be deserving of the nickname "Nanoman."