Prompted by the substantial impact of nanoscience and nanotechnology on the diverse materials, metals and minerals being used by over six billion people on the disturbingly overcrowding, increasingly mobile and energy guzzling planet, the author has attempted to produce a readable and comprehensive outline of the physics, chemistry, biology and engineering dimensions and processes relating to the exploitation of various kinds of materials, nanomaterials and nanoparticles, with special reference to carbon-based and silicon-based materials.