Importance of the sub-ångstrom (pico-scale) structure of surfaces and liquids for determining their thin-film rheology Jacob Israelachvili Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science University of California The talk will review some recent experimental results, including theoretical modeling and computer simulations, focusing on the effects of surface texture and liquid structure on adhesion and friction/lubrication forces. Examples will include surfaces that are rough or smooth, hard or soft, adhesive or non-adhesive, dry (unlubricated) or lubricated. Such studies are clarifying the molecular and atomic basis of many well-established adhesion and tribological laws and empirical observations, and revealing new insights and relationships between nano-scale (molecular) and macro-scale processes. It will be argued that the ultra-fine 'pico-scale' details of a surface lattice or of the liquid molecules adjacent to it are the most important factors for determining friction and lubrication forces, and for understanding the slip conditions for liquid flow past surfaces, whereas such effects are much less important for adhesion forces.