Nanosciences and nanotechnologies: evolution trajectories and disruptive features

Nanotechnologies and nanosciences are one of the most important novelties in the panorama of sciences and technologies. This work presents: their evolution since their first emergence; their most important scientific and technological features; the analysis of their role in society and economics in the socio-economic literature; their main areas of scientific and technological evolution and deployment; the motivations of the interests towards them in science and society. Nanotechnologies and nanosciences originate from a recombination of pre-existing research fields; they have the character of being a general-purpose technology and are linked to classic scientific areas. The character of Disruptive Technology of nanotechnologies and nanosciences is assessed also with the use of experimental data from a bibliographic analysis. Several examples of nanotechnological items are presented, either yet in the hands of consumers or showing promising features for the next future. The accurate description of this newly expanding area of sciences and technologies can provide important insights to the scholars and practitioners who are engaged in the study of this field of science, technology and innovation, or aim at comparing this with related fields.