Nanotechnology & Art

Nanotechnology & Art

Desma 9

July 2016

Nanotechnology is the study and use of structures between 1 nanometer (nm) and 100 nanometers in size. It was introduced to us by Richard Faynman from CalTech in 1959 when he gave a lecture called “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom”, which he discussed that people could use extremely small tools to rearrange atoms and molecules. By 1974 Professor Norio Taniguchi from Tokyo devised the term nanotechnology, which described precision machining of materials to within atomic-scale dimensional acceptances. (Nano.gov) One nanometer is about one-billionth of a meter in size. This is why Nanoscience is so intriguing, it allows us to study things at the smallest possible level so that we can learn and understand how things actually work. When I visited the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley I encountered the “Nanozone”, which introduced me to nanotechnology. At this exhibit it had pictures of various objects to help you put into perspective how small something really was. There was a picture of a hand and it said that your hand could measure millions of nanometers long!

                                                                                                                                                           

Artists have been working alongside scientists using nanotechnology to create drawings and models of what the naked eye cannot see. The artist helps the scientist to see things that are otherwise invisible to us. One way that nanotechnology is affecting art is the way paint is being produced. The nanoparticles being produced in paint are making the paint more durable for either paintings or buildings to make them last longer. In Europe, nanotechnology is being used to restore and preserve artwork. “The hope is that these nanoscale products can get inside the polymers that make up the artworks, cleaning them from the inside, as well as stabilizing the materials”. (Sorrel)

Nanoparticles are also being used to help in medical advancement. Researchers at the University of Washington discovered that nanoparticles can make blood clots easy to detect on a new CT scanner. This is an extremely important way to detect blood clots faster to prevent heart attacks or strokes. Nanotechnology has the capability to have a huge impact on the medical field in the future. It is a fast growing field that can help improve our overall health and help prevent disease. The comprehension of how cells and atoms work at the molecular level have already improved our health.

As Professor Gimzewski mentioned, nanotechnology is everywhere around us whether we know it or not. My scratch resistant sunglasses, my wrinkle-free shirt, and my sunscreen are all results of nanotechnology, it is an inescapable part of our everyday life and has introduced me to a world I never knew existed. It has made me recognize that there are a lot of endless possibilities of nanotechnology that can help to improve our lives in the future.

Sources

"Art in the Age of Nanotechnology." Art.Base. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2016.

Gimzewski, Jim. “Nanotech + Art | Lectures” Pt 5 & 6 UConline Program. Online Video Clip. Web. 20 July 2016.

Sorrel, Charlie. "European Museums Are Using Nanotechnology to Preserve and Restore Modern Artworks." Co.Exist. N.p., 2016. Web. 20 July 2016.

"Nanotechnology Timeline." Nano. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2016.

"Nanowiki.info - This Website Is for Sale! - nanowiki Resources and Information." Nanowiki.info - This Website Is for Sale! - nanowiki Resources and Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2016.

Images

HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, n.d. Web. 20 July 2016.

"Nanotechnology, Conceptual Artwork by Laguna Design." Fine Art America. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2016.

"The Great Promises & Challenges of Nanotechnology - Industry Tap." Industry Tap. N.p., 2015. Web. 20 July 2016.