The way that we deal with individual atoms and molecules has been fundamentally changed by the scanning probe microscope. It has provided researchers with new visions of the nanoworld and has offered deep insights into the behaviour of atoms, molecules and surfaces. But scanning probe microscopes can do much more than look at the nanoworld – they can also manipulate and control single atoms and molecules. And as these microscopes become more powerful and flexible, they have the potential to provide even deeper insights into basic science and to drive new technologies in the 21St century.