Nanotech + Art

This time, Dr. Gimzewski begins his lecture by showing the chemistry view and the scale of how nanotechnology is defined. I remembered "nano-" as something small and tiny from my physics class during high school year. This term is used when dealing with molecule and atomic scale. What captured my sight was Drexler's vision engineering with atoms and molecules. Although Smalley had a debate against Drexler's idea, I was so surprised by the moving or vibrating model-animation regarding nanotechnology.

Drexler's moving model animation

<http://www.e-flux.com/journal/notes-on-the-inorganic-part-i-accelerations/>

Dr. Gimzewski introduced many fabulous and interesting things about nanotechnology like different color dots of quantum, nanoshells used as cancer therapy. Especially, the third video was about nanoparticles (generally sized between 100 and 1 nanometer(s)). By changing the size, the nanoparticles can have different and changed properties. Lotus leaf effect is when the water drops do not get soaked in the leaf. It is due to the surface and we call it as a hydrophobic phenomena. Therefore, non-wetting lotus can have uncontaminated and clean leaf. This idea led and affected today's daily products.The company began to think of producing fabrics, self cleaning fabrics and self cleaning glass and even self cleaning concrete. Japanese train (Shinkansen) is one example that has been coated and became the self cleaning-train using this idea. The rain will be washed away.

locus leaf example

<http://www.ecofriend.com/10-ways-nanotechnology-promises-shape-green-future.html>

how "structure" makes the water drop stays on the surface

<http://www.fineshinetech.com/tech/index_tech_06.htm>

The article called the "art in the age of nanotechnology" has many fascinating pictures to explore the art and nanotechnology collaboration. Boo Chapple's work was the first thing that captured my sight who made the audio speaker using the bone by the vibration of a bone to make a sound that can be actually heard.
Another example I decided to put on my blog was the blue morpho which was one picture of a butterfly with blue color wings on it. However this color is not just from the color, but from the structure. There is no component that makes the "colored" wings. It is because of the nanophotonics. You will see structures which look like Christmas trees. The light reflected from the Christmas tree-structure causes the wings to form the color. These discoveries became the reasons how science is explained through art and design. I also saw unique and beautiful self-organized shapes and structures found in nature.

how Christmas tree looking structure gives the butterfly a color

<http://www.photobiology.info/Ball.html>

Nanotech sounds like it is related to the filed of science, but Dr. Gimzewski mentioned how people are using many products that are nanomaterials in the last lecture video. Especially cosmetics and sunscreens. Nano system is also willing to generate in food and agriculture in the future to avoid pollution. Many nano-food productions are easy to found in markets. I agree with the Professor Vesna that the concept of nanotechnology is important because this new system of combination of art and nanotechnology is getting re-invented through our daily lives like the paradigm shifts patterns. 

Citations

“Art in the Age of Nanotechnology.” Artabase. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

"Nature's Fantastical Palette: Color from Structure" Philip Ball. Web. 30 May 2012.
<http://www.photobiology.info/Ball.html>

Gimzewski, Jim, and Victoria Vesna. The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact & Fiction in the Construction of a New Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://vv.arts.ucla.edu/publications/publications/02-03/JV_nano/JV_nano_artF5VG.htm>.

"Nanotech Jim pt1". Gimzewski. 21 May. 2012. Lecture Video. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7jM6-iqzzE>