Abstract
The mass distribution of small bodies in the solar system extends over more than 35 orders of magnitude, from asteroids to nanodust, which bridge the gap between molecules and macroscopic submicron grains. The small size of nanograins compared to the relevant basic scales gives them peculiar properties. Some of these properties affect their electric charging and their large charge-to-mass ratio drives their acceleration to very high speeds in moving magnetised plasmas, as the solar wind and rotating planetary magnetospheres. The electric charge and/or high speed of nanograins have enabled them to be detected serendipitously in various parts of the solar system by several instruments designed to study larger dust, plasma particles, or waves, on a number of spacecraft. These discoveries have opened an emerging field of research, in which many open questions remain, in particular concerning the lower size limit of the particles.
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