This week’s material on Nanotechnology was the most
difficult unit for me to understand that we have covered thus far. Prior to
this unit I had never thought about nanotechnology, let alone knew that it is
fundamental to seeing and controlling individuals atoms and molecules. Because
everything on earth is composed of atoms (food, cloths, buildings, and
organisms) this unit helped expand my understanding of how small, but vast and
powerful, nanotechnology is to science and also its significance to art.
(There are 1000 or so nano products currently on the market. Above is a few.)
I found the lecture video that describes Nanotechnologies
connect to art and nature very interesting. First, it is interesting to note
that although the invention of advanced microscopes made identifying atoms
possible, these tiny atoms have existed throughout all of time. I enjoyed
hearing about the self-organization process of atoms in shells, snowflakes,
trees, and in particular the Blue Morpho butterfly. When looked at from a
distance the Blue Morpho butterfly has a mesmerizing blue reflection but when actually
examined at the micro atom level its complexion does not reflect what it
actually looks like, that is, the atoms have self-organized, which has amazingly
manipulated the design of the butterfly.
While doing my own research on this field, I discovered an
article that looked at the way nanoscale materials have been used for
centuries. Although this is a fairly new area of science and technology,
artists have been using nanotechnology even before the modern era. For example,
the beautiful medieval stained glass windows that you see in old churches were
affected at the nanoscale through the process used to create the glass. The
various sizes of gold and silver particles produced colors inside the stained
glass windows. Today, artists, and scientists are taking advantage of the manipulation
of materials at the nanoscale to create stronger, lighter, and increased
chemical reactivity than their other competitors.
Works Cited
"What Is Nanotechnology?" Nano.Gov. National Nanotechnology Initiative, n.d. Web. 19 May 2015.
"Mimicking Nature's Nanotechnology: From a Butterfly Wing to Anti-counterfeit Technologies." Sustainable Nano. The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, 20 Jan. 2015. Web. 19 May 2015.
"What Is Nanotechnology?" CRN. Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, n.d. Web. 19 May 2015.
"From Nanotech to Nanoscience | Chemical Heritage Foundation." CHF. Chemical Heritage Foundation, n.d. Web. 19 May 2015.
"Thinking Smaller: How Nanoscience Can Help Us Understand Nature's Many Microbiomes." The Kavil Foundation. Kavli Foundation, n.d. Web. 19 May 2015.
"From Nanotech to Nanoscience | Chemical Heritage Foundation." CHF. Chemical Heritage Foundation, n.d. Web. 19 May 2015.
"Thinking Smaller: How Nanoscience Can Help Us Understand Nature's Many Microbiomes." The Kavil Foundation. Kavli Foundation, n.d. Web. 19 May 2015.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThis week's lecture was definitely hard for me to understand too. And just like you I thought it was absolutely fascinating to learn that nanotechnology is not a new concept. In fact it has been in existence for centuries. I thought it was incredible that the Romans used nanotechnology to turn Lycurgus Cup from green to red 1,600 years ago. I also thought it was amazing how the Renaissance artists were skilled nanotechnologists and used nanoparticles to give their finely painted ceramics a rich luster.
I really enjoyed reading your blog. Good job!
Hi Jessica,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! I agree that nanotechnology is a difficult concept to understand at first, and that's probably why it represents such a paradigm shift, since we can't really see it with our own eyes. The graphic you found of consumer products that use nanotechnology surprised me, since I wouldn't really think of stuffed animals or cooking utensils as "high-tech" enough to utilize nanotechnology. That's cool, though - it shows how nanotechnology is really prevalent in our everyday lives, even if we don't know it.
Like you, I think the ability of nanoparticles to self-organize is pretty amazing. If you've watched Big Hero 6, it reminds me of the microbots that could assemble into any robot with a single thought from Hiro, the creator. Maybe one day we'll be able to manipulate nanoparticles as easily!
Hi Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI loved your post this week, it was very formative and interesting. It truly is amazing that nanoparticles have the capability to self-organize. It is amazing how nanotechnology can vary from cosmetics to stuffed animals. The interconnection between science and art displayed in this week’s lecture will truly benefit a plethora of consumer products in the near future.