Week 5: NanoTech + Art

Nanotechnology is so intricate and important to our world. It impacts science and technology to a massive extent. This all started with Richard Feynman who gave a lecture in 1959. He quoted “The principles of physics as far as I can see, do not speak against the possibility of maneuvering things atom by atom". In Dr. Gimzewski's lecture, he claimed that how could one even possible move an atom, let alone even touch one?

Richard Feynman

As I mentioned already that nanotechnology impacts science technology, we see an uprising in nano-robotics. As robots as reduced size to nano-robots or nanobots, this became a huge  advancement for not only science but medicine technology as well.  In a NOVA lecture, it explained that tiny devices like micro-robots may be able to save lives in the future. In the age of digital information, technology will depend on tiny gadgets that could probe the interior of the human body.

In Professor Vesna and Dr. Gimzewski's article, they mention that early nanobots were tested on their ability to scope and grab virus particles (pictured below). If scientists and doctors are able to create more gadgets and medical instruments like this, then there is not doubt that lives could be saved. Nanotechnology also expand to DNA folding. Paul Rothemund of TED gave a lecture about how tiny machines will be able to assemble themselves. Through his complex lecture, his example of DNA origami and how the square that were made are able to form a memory. By a formed memory, these tiny machines will be able to assemble themselves which would benefit DNA folding and origami. There will be mishaps and safety hazards for all medical nanotechnolgy but through precise testing, I believe this nano technology and robots could emerge to help the medical industry.

Another thing that I would like to tackle is when art and nanotechnology meet. In my opinion, it is difficult to do but amazing people always find away. The amazing people in this case happen to be my professors, Victoria Vesna and Dr. Gimzewski. They both created an incredible nano-mandala that is a 15min video, projected onto a disk of sand, 8 feet in diameter. Visitors are able to touch the sand as oscillating images of the molecular structure of a single grain of sand obtained via a scanning electron microscope (SEM). As you move the sand, inevitably the complete mandala will form again as the sand falls to the ground again. This type of project finds a way to connect art, technology, and science all together which is extremely hard to do.

Sources

1. Curtin, John. "Art in the Age of Nanotechnology." Art.Base. Art.base, n.d. Web. 23 July 2016. <https://art.base.co/event/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

2.Gimzewski, Jim, and Victoria Vesna. "The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact & Fiction in the Construction of a New Science." The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact & Fiction in the Construction of a New Science. UCLA, n.d. Web. 23 July 2016. <http://vv.arts.ucla.edu/publications/publications/02-03/JV_nano/JV_nano_artF5VG.htm>.

3. Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt1." YouTube. Uconlineprogram, 21 May 2012. Web. 23 July 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7jM6-iqzzE>.

4.. NOVA. "Making Stuff." PBS. PBS, 21 Aug. 2013. Web. 23 July 2016. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/making-stuff.html#making-stuff-smaller>.

5. Rothemund, Paul. "DNA Folding, in Detail." TED. TED Conferences, Feb. 2008. Web. 23 July 2016. <http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_rothemund_details_dna_folding#t-836129>.

Images:

1. Johnson, Jeff. Floating in an aliquot of laboratory test fluid, these hypothetical early medical nanorobots are testing their ability to find and grasp passing virus particles. Courtesy of Jeff Johnson, 2001. Copyright 2003 Hybrid Medical Animation. Digital image. Arts.ucla.edu. UCLA, n.d. Web. 23 July 2016. <http://vv.arts.ucla.edu/publications/publications/02-03/JV_nano/JV_nano_artF5VG.htm>.

2. Riley, Christopher. Richard Feynman, whose diagrams provided the first intuitive way of drawing particle interactions. Digital image. The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited 2016, 9 May 2013. Web. 23 July 2016. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/10036024/Richard-Feynman-Life-the-universe-and-everything.html>.

3. Vesna, Victoria, and Jim Gimzewski. Nanomandala. Digital image. Art.base. Art.base, n.d. Web. 23 July 2016. <https://art.base.co/event/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.