Chemists have demonstrated that synthetic nanoparticles can achieve the same level of structural complexity, hierarchy and accuracy as biomolecules. The study, published in Science, also reveals the atomic-level mechanisms behind nanoparticle self-assembly, providing an important window into how nanoparticles form. The findings could help guide the construction of nanoparticles, including those that can be used in the creation of computer chips, materials, drugs and drug delivery devices.