Week 8 Nanotechnology and Art

Nanotechnology and Art

Strelitzia-like titanium oxide - Simone Battiston and Andrea Leto

From listening to Dr. Gimzewski who has had about 30 – 35 years of experience, nanotechnology seems to be a relatively new concept. This week’s readings and lectures focused on the history of nanotechnology and its new and developing applications.

The term “nanotechnology” was invented by Norio Taniguchi who was a professor at Tokyo University of Science (Wikipedia.com) in 1974. Nanotechnology is defined as ‘todays science, technology and engineering’ conduced on a nanoscale. Its applications can span from creating tennis balls to medical gauze to silver embedded into socks or t-shirts to reduce odor and bacteria (McKenna). There are approximately 25,400,00 nanometers in one inch.

The scanning tunneling microscope (NanoScience.com),  in my opinion, is the most interesting invention created by using nanotechnology. This impressive microscope has an exceptionally thin tip that is able to read any surface by processing the electrical signals which are released by the electrons of the surface. It is remarkable that this very advanced and intricate creation was invented in the 80’s. It is very advanced because it is able to move single atoms.

The process of the scanning telescope 
Artists have also started creating Nano Art pieces  This art is art on a nano, molecular and atomic scale (not seen by the naked human eye). This is fascinating because the artists are able to manipulate molecular matter and create different patterns and create beautiful art work which can only be seen through an atomic microscope.

A Nano-art work of a guitar


I expect that in the future nanotechnology will keep growing as a field that becomes even more widely known. I also hope that we will see even more nano-art pieces and nano-artists.


Resources:
McKenna, Phil. “Smelly Sock Treatment Leaks Silver Nanoparticles.” New Scientist, 7 Apr. 2008, www.newscientist.com/…/dn13602-smelly-sock-treatment-leaks…/. Accessed 23 May 2017.

Vesna, Victoria. “Intro to NanoTech + Art." UCLA, Los Angeles. Lecture.

"Scanning Tunneling Microscope." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 May 2017. Web. 27 May 2017.

"What Is Nanotechnology?" What Is Nanotechnology? | Nano. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2017. <https://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/what/definition>.

Gimzewski, J. "Nanotechnology + Art, Pt. 3." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 2017 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzXjNbKDkYI>.

"Scientists Are Becoming Artists, Thanks to 'NanoArt'." Public Radio International. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2017. <https://www.pri.org/stories/2014-09-30/scientists-are-becoming-artists-thanks-nanoart>.

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