As one of the first ever journals launched with the word ‘nano’ in the title, Nano Letters has been a pioneer publication in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The first issue editorial of 28 November 2000, signed by Paul Alivisatos, explained that bottom-up and top-down approaches were converging at the nanometre scale and would, at some point, allow the fabrication of materials with complete control of composition and therefore functions at all scales. A science that is not chemistry or physics or biology required a truly interdisciplinary journal. And within interdisciplinarity lies the journal’s success.

Understanding nanoscale systems requires that each discipline contributes with its own perspective and investigative tools to create something new that ultimately transcends traditional fields. Furthermore, findings that elucidate effects that at first sight seem specific to a certain nanoscale system may well be of interest to a much wider audience, as these interactions operate on and are relevant to that same length scale. As such, publishing nanoscale research in specialized journals may not reach the intended audience; or, better put, may not reach all those researchers that could potentially benefit from it. Kudos, then, to the American Chemical Society for betting on this vision and to Alivisatos and Charles Lieber who have been co-editing the journal and led the way.

Over the years, there has been a consolidation of this way of thinking. Nanoscience and nanotechnology research has exploded and many more journals have been launched (including Nature Nanotechnology back in 2006). Moreover, we have also seen an evolution of the composition of individual research groups. In more and more cases — where funding allows — principal investigators are trying to combine chemists, physicists, electrical engineers, biologists and so on in their own lab to make it interdisciplinary to start with. This way of working naturally fosters collaboration and consolidates further the foundational elements of nanoscience and nanotechnology research. From this perspective, we find the choice of Teri Odom particularly appropriate, as her group is also set up in this way and she is therefore well-placed to interpret the evolution of the field in the near future.

We look forward to seeing her vision reflected in the journal, and to co-operating with Nano Letters in promoting nanoscience and nanotechnology research towards the solution of societal challenges.