Also, because an electrical current is passed between two electrical contacts on the tweezers and through the object, the object's electrical properties can be investigated with the tweezers.

Molecular structures like the tweezers also have important technological implications.

"There is a lot of miniaturization going on in all fields, including electrical and mechanical circuitry. These tools will directly affect those developments," said Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Hongkun Park.

Park studies the physical chemistry of nanoscale structures.

"There is so much potential in the field of nanotechnology. But in order to realize the potential you need to have the tools," he said.

Lieber said on NPR that the uses of nanoscale tweezers might even extend to surgery or subcellular manipulation.

Kim also stressed the importance of tools like the tweezers for all areas of scientific research.