In this talk, we will discuss how a global vision of molecular processes in silicates is important to understand how nanoscale processes influence megascale geological phenomenons and human material making. I will show how "big picture" questions in geosciences actually are intimately related to fundamental questions regarding the intimate structure of materials. This will be the opportunity to take a journey from the environment of protons in our favourite mineral, olivine, to the important of nanostructuration in glasses for volcanic eruptions or the design of handheld device screens.