Nanoparticles are already used in many everyday products. Nanoparticles can be found in detergent, laundry powders, cosmetics, sunscreen, antiaging mixtures. If your kitchen sink has a water filter, it is likely to contain activated carbon and silver nanoparticles.

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Silver nanoparticles have a very useful antimicrobial property. As microbes such as algae and bacteria find silver ions toxic, contact with these ions quickly destroy any microbial lifeforms. Due to this property, silver nanoparticles often coat cutlery, fridges, pet bowls, socks, and even some pillows and other surfaces where microorganisms are unwanted.

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Nanoparticles such as graphene and carbon nanotubes that are high in strength can be found in sporting material.

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Some paints contain a nanoparticle titanium dioxide which has UV protecting properties to help keep your painted surface protected.

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Catalytic converters in cars also have a number of nanoparticles that help reduce the harmful emissions from a car.

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The following resource draws on the Australian Curriculum's Science as a Human Endeavor: Advances in scientific understanding often rely on technological advances and are often linked to scientific discoveries (ACSHE192)