Week 8 Nanotechnology + Art

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 This week I learned what nanotechnology is and what it entails. Before this week, I was completely unaware of the definition of nanotechnology and how it is used. As nanotech scientist Jim Gimzewski stated, the word “nano is Greek for dwarf”, and is basically the science and study at the nanoscale which is “1 to 100 nanometers”  (Gimzewski, “Nanotech for Artists Part 1 - Dr. Gimzewski”).

Multistate Research Fund Impacts Program. "Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Food systems" National Institute of Food and Agriculture, May 24, 2022.https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/impacts/nanotechnology-agriculture-food-systems

An additional source that enhanced my overall understanding of how nanotechnology relates to life was Paul Rothemund. His Ted Talk helped me comprehend the ways that nanotechnology relates to evolution and how human characteristics come about. Rothemund related nanotechnology to life and evolution because it is an element of “computation” (Rothemund, “DNA folding in detail”). He went further to show examples of bees depicting how nanotechnology allowed us to see why and how bees have antennas and if the nanotech was different how it might affect the entire genetic makeup of the bee. This is the same process with people.

Paul W.K. Rothemund/Caltech, "Paul Rothemund, DNA origami: Folded DNA as a Building Material for Molecular Devices". May 25,2016,
https://www.caltech.edu/campus-life-events/calendar/paul-rothemund-emdnanbsporigami-folded-dna-as-a-building-material-for-molecular-devicesem

Another interesting aspect of nanotech is how it relates to art. Nanoparticles are obviously mostly invisible which makes it more difficult to really understand. If we could see them, we obviously might have a better understanding of how they work. This is why Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau’s art called Nano-scape is so important. Nano-scape made “the nano world accessible through touch…” by “[having] users wear magnetic ring interfaces that are made of strong permanent magnets” (John Curtin Gallery). These rings would allow users to feel “strong magnetic forces, repulsion, attraction and even slight shock” as they moved their hands through the installation. This allows users to literally feel nanoparticles and nanotech at work. As Professor Vesna stated nanotechnical art “is going beyond everything we’ve ever known” which is a statement that is really exemplified by the Nano-space installation (Victoria Vesna, “Nanotech Intro”).

Nanovaccine Institute, "Nanoscale & Nanoparticles". https://nanovaccine.iastate.edu/about-us/nanoscale/ 

I also learned that nanotech is a very important element in our society not only for art and science but for environmental reasons too. As David Pogue investigated in “Making Stuff: Cleaner”, nanotech can facilitate the  creation of “biodegradable plastics, new approach[es] to fuel cell cars… [and] hydrogen storage” which will in turn substantially help our environment. Nanotech is an important element of the science, art, and technological worlds and is basically the foundation to life. 


Works Cited

Gimzewski, Jim. “Nanotech Jim Pt1.” YouTube, 21 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7jM6-iqzzE.

Pogue, David. “Making Stuff: Cleaner.” PBS, www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/making-stuff-cleaner/. Accessed 26 May 2023.

Rothemund, Paul. “DNA Folding, in Detail.” Paul Rothemund: DNA Folding, in Detail | TED Talk, www.ted.com/talks/paul_rothemund_dna_folding_in_detail?language=en. Accessed 26 May 2023.

Sommerer, Christa, and Laurent Mignonneau. “Art in the Age of Nanotechnology.” Art.Base, art.base.co/event/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology#5. Accessed 26 May 2023.

Vesna, Victoria. “Nanotech Intro.” YouTube, 26 Mar. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ3y6TkXJ6Y. 



Comments

  1. Jenna SilvaMay 28, 2023 at 4:20 AM

    Hi, Maya! I must admit that I, too, was completely unaware of what the field of nanotechnology consisted of. I knew that it must have had something to do with micro or miniature entities, judging by the term, but I never would have guessed that it was such a broad and extensive discipline of science! Your discussion of the various ways in which nanotechnology bears a significant connection to life, art, and the environment was extremely fascinating. I especially appreciate how you provided us with an overview of Paul Rothemund's perspective on the relationship between nanotech and evolution. It's honestly amazing how this seemingly insignificant branch of technology has played such a pivotal role in computation and the process of genetic assembly. This is definitely something I never would have known about nanotechnology! Overall, awesome post!

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