&gt; &quot;Does anyone, even here on HN, think that it is really absurd to make these comparisons? Comparing Facebook with an advanced technology? Come on.&quot;<p>It is a bizarre comparison, but the author appears to be using it as a colloquial way to describe a runaway success, which makes sense even if the industries are not directly related.<p>From the limited knowledge I have on nanotech, I&#x27;d suggest the closest it&#x27;s come to a runaway success so far has been in superhydrophobic coatings. If a food-safe and long-lasting superhydrophobic coating was discovered, I could imagine the market would be huge. Consider plates&#x2F;bowls&#x2F;cutlery that you&#x27;d never&#x2F;rarely need to wash up, that could take off massively.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Superhydrophobic_coating" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Superhydrophobic_coating</a>