Nanoscale science and technology represent one of most exciting areas in science and technology today. One-dimensional nanostructures, such as the nanowires described in our paper, are particularly interesting because they represent the smallest dimension for efficient transport of electrical carriers, and have the potential to revolutionize broad areas of nanotechnology, including electronics, photonics, computing, information technology, sensing and health care. However, the studies of one-dimensional nanostructures had been severely restricted due to the difficulties associated with their synthesis. Our paper "General synthesis of compound semiconductor nanowires" represented a timely breakthrough in the growth of one-dimensional nanostructures. It defined a rational and predictable intellectual framework as well as corresponding methodologies for the synthesis of a broad range of nanowire materials with controlled chemical compositions, physical dimensions, and electronic and optical properties—which have quickly enabled an exponential growth of research in this new class of materials and have directly led to a number of exciting applications including "nanocircuits" which have been referred to as the "Breakthrough of the Year " in Science, December 21, 2001.