Abstract Nuclei as finite quantum objects exhibit a variety of structures in their ground and excited states. Collisions between two heavy nuclei at medium bombarding energies lead to different phenomena depending on the impact parameter of the collision. Various studies have indicated that the structure of projectile and target nuclei play important role in deciding the reaction dynamics in heavy ion collisions. The present talk will provide a glimpse of certain aspects of the effect of nuclear structure in heavy ion collisions leading to fusion, transfer and fission reactions.

In this talk I shall provide a brief overview of technologies where nanoscience and technology can provide value addition to both existing technologies as well as to a few emerging ones. A few specific areas of applications such as nanocomposites, nanocatalysts and energy storage shall be discussed. The second part of the talk will demonstrate how basic physics can still be a useful tool to solve a practical problem associated with quantum dot lasing. I shall discuss the physics of nanocrystal lasing and demonstrate a procedure for fabricating novel core-shell nanostructures that can eliminate the problem of non-radiative auger transition that will eventually lead to single-exciton lasing.