Week 8- Nanotechnology and Art
When I think of nanotechnology, the first thing that comes to mind is robots. Not the big ones, but the small ones. The ones that are so small, they could fit on your finger tip, as I have seen multiple times on science blogs, 60 Minutes, and other mediums of information.
However, I do not often think about the common every day information that was presented in this weeks lectures and readings.
Firstly, just thinking of a nanometer as 1 billionth of a meter, or as Professor Jim Gimzewski described it, the length of a glucose molecule, was simply mind-blowing. One of the quotes that Gimzewski discussed that really spoke to me was Richard Feyman's description that, "“The principles of physics, as far as I can see, do not speak against the possibility of maneuvering things atom by atom” Even today, after all we already know about non-tech, the idea of taking the smaller things in our universe, an atom, and manipulating them is an idea that was well beyond its years. Even things that we use every day just as graphite or graphene have been carefully manipulated to form the desired shape and object.
One of the coolest applications that Gimzewski discussed in his lecture was the applications in medicine. Specifically, how different colors could be seen through quantum dots depending on the particles size, meaning you could potentially highlight parts of a certain cell to find a disease.
Another really cool idea discussed was just how prolific nature has been in the ideas that are formed, such as the gecko's ability to seamlessly scale a wall.
But to me, the thing that was most impressive was how artistic a person could be with nano tech. Whether it be pots that are 2400 years old that changes colors in the light and dark, atoms that can spell put different words, or self-replicating molecules that can make shapes and figures, the possibilities are endless.
As someone who likes to think outside the box as much as possible, I can just image the artwork I could create with these nanoparticles. The simplicity of it, no brushes, no paint, but yet the complexity of dealing with things at the microscopical level is something that likely appeals to a vast majority of artists. And if not, it certainly appeals to me.
Bibliography:
"Art in the Age of Nanotechnology." Art.Base. N.p., 2013. Web. 28 May 2017.
"EWG's 2017 Guide to Safer Sunscreens." EWG. EWG Sunscreen, 2017. Web. 28 May 2017
"Introduction to Nanotechnology." Introduction to Nanotechnology RSS. NanoTech Institue, Sept. 2016. Web. 28 May 2017.
M.C. Roco 1 American Society of Mechanical Engineers. "National Nanotechnology Investment in the FY 2016 Budget." AAAS - The World's Largest General Scientific Society. ASME, 12 May 2015. Web. 27 May 2017.
"National Institute for Experimental Arts." NanoArt | National Institute for Experimental Arts. NIA, 01 May 1970. Web. 26 May 2017.
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| This is an artist representation of a possible nano-robot that could be created by the U.S. Air Force |
Firstly, just thinking of a nanometer as 1 billionth of a meter, or as Professor Jim Gimzewski described it, the length of a glucose molecule, was simply mind-blowing. One of the quotes that Gimzewski discussed that really spoke to me was Richard Feyman's description that, "“The principles of physics, as far as I can see, do not speak against the possibility of maneuvering things atom by atom” Even today, after all we already know about non-tech, the idea of taking the smaller things in our universe, an atom, and manipulating them is an idea that was well beyond its years. Even things that we use every day just as graphite or graphene have been carefully manipulated to form the desired shape and object.
One of the coolest applications that Gimzewski discussed in his lecture was the applications in medicine. Specifically, how different colors could be seen through quantum dots depending on the particles size, meaning you could potentially highlight parts of a certain cell to find a disease.
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| This, another application for quantum dots, can be put into checks or bills to help prevent large scale counterfeiting. |
But to me, the thing that was most impressive was how artistic a person could be with nano tech. Whether it be pots that are 2400 years old that changes colors in the light and dark, atoms that can spell put different words, or self-replicating molecules that can make shapes and figures, the possibilities are endless.
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| An artists create a flower like formation through the manipulation of nanoparticules |
Bibliography:
"Art in the Age of Nanotechnology." Art.Base. N.p., 2013. Web. 28 May 2017.
"EWG's 2017 Guide to Safer Sunscreens." EWG. EWG Sunscreen, 2017. Web. 28 May 2017
"Introduction to Nanotechnology." Introduction to Nanotechnology RSS. NanoTech Institue, Sept. 2016. Web. 28 May 2017.
M.C. Roco 1 American Society of Mechanical Engineers. "National Nanotechnology Investment in the FY 2016 Budget." AAAS - The World's Largest General Scientific Society. ASME, 12 May 2015. Web. 27 May 2017.
"National Institute for Experimental Arts." NanoArt | National Institute for Experimental Arts. NIA, 01 May 1970. Web. 26 May 2017.
I really like how you addressed art and nano tech in this blog. I also found the nanotech in medicine fascinating! It is crazy to think about all the applications of nano tech and what scientists are able to do. Great blog !
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