NanoTech+Art (Week 5)

Before this lesson, I was completely oblivious of nanotechnology, so I will never connect it with art. A sentence that Dr. Gimzewski said that hit me the hardest is that nanotechnology exists everywhere around us; sometimes we just don’t know that it exists. After the lectures, I strongly agree with this sentence. Nanotechnology has produced “products that range from molecular sensors in underwear…to artificial red blood cells” (Vesna, Gimzewski) and cosmetics, such as sunscreen, that we use daily. Scientists have even further discovered “new nanoparticles that makes blood clots visible” (Cavalle), so we can better prevent disease like heart attacks.

(Blood clots marked by nanoparticles)

In addition to its many benefits to us in various aspects of life, nanotechnology also combines art and science. In the attempt to come up with a “super glue” by using similar properties as geckos’ feet, nanotechnology combines the art of life found in nature with advanced researches to allow “strong and tight sealing bonds between materials” (Daasbjerg) to form. This advancement can help us greatly in daily life.

Nanoparticle-filled Brush

Furthermore, nanotech scientists are inspired by lotus leaves to create anti-bacterial clothes that we can wear. Something we view as simple as a beautiful scenery of morning water droplets on leaves can be turned into ideas for technologies of self-cleaning products. All of these new technologies allowed us to live more comfortably and conveniently.

Nanotechnology is also used to directly create art, as seen in Dr. Gimzewski’s example of stained glass. Stained glasses are beautiful artwork pieces and they are tinted with nanoparticles in order to produce the vibrant pigments that normal paint could not produce.

However, despite the benefits that nanotechnology brought for us, there also exist dangers in overusing nanomaterial. As Dr. Gimzewski mentioned in lecture, there has been Silver Sulfide Nanoparticles found in sewage sludge and the overabundance of these particles can cause damage to the ecosystem of the ocean. In another research, scientists have found that nanoparticles in diesel exhaust can cause damages to lung cells. Moreover, the process of producing nanotechnology can be very costly as well. There is always a positive and a negative side to everything, so the most important thing that we have to do now is to find the balance in which we can not only continue to study and produce useful nanotechnologies, but also to minimize its negative effects and avoid abusing the technology.

Works Cited

Cavallé, Josep Saldaña. "New Nanoparticles Make Blood Clots Visible." Nanowiki. N.p., 7 Feb. 2011. Web. 21 July 2014.

Cavallé, Josep Saldaña. " Findings on Pollution Damage." Nanowiki. N.p., 22 Feb. 2011. Web. 21 July 2014.

Daasbjerg, Kim. "New Nanotechnology Paves Way for Molecular Super Glue." Sciencenordic.com. Science Ordic, 28 May 2013. Web. 21 July 2014.

Geckos’ Feet. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2014. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Gecko_foot_on_glass.JPG>.

Gimzewski, Jim. “Lecutre Part 1.“ NanoTech + Art. 21 July 2014. Lecture.

Gimzewski, Jim. “Lecutre Part 3.“ NanoTech + Art. 21 July 2014. Lecture.

Nanotech and Blood Clotting. Digital image. N.p., 2000. Web. 21 July 2014. <http://nanowiki.info/img/clots.jpg>.

Polymer Brush. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2014. <http://sciencenordic.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/620x/polymers_0.jpg>.

Self-Cleaning Window. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2014. <http://morleyglass.co.uk/assets/images/Dirty-v-clean.jpg>.

Stained Glass. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2014. <http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Stained-Glass-in-Chapel-of-Notre-Dame-de-Grace-at-Honfleur.jpg>.

Vesna, Victoria, and Jim Gimzewski. "The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact & Fiction in the Construction of a New Science." (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 21 July 2014.