Nanotech+Art

In this week’s lecture, we learned about how important nanotechnology is. Professor Vesna considers this very important because she sees it as a new introduction to our lives. Nanotechnology will push us over the edge and to the 21st century.

First, of all, what is nanotechnology? Before this week’s lecture, I had no idea what nanotechnology was. It was a topic that I was new to. But after this week’s lecture, I was able to understand the importance of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology by definition is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1-100 NANOmeters. It involves shrinking down objects so they can perform mechanical, electrical, or chemical processes at a much smaller scale. Nanotechnology has proven incredibly useful for scientists working to create materials at the nanoscale.

Through Dr. Gimzewski, a former IBM researcher and UCLA professor, I was able to learn that almost every aspect of science and technology is somehow influenced by nanotechnology. He discussed the impact of Richard Feynman’s daring hypothesis that there is plenty of opportunities to manipulate things on the atomic level, the discovery of carbon allotropes by Smalley et al., the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope by Gerd and Heini, self-assembling DNA structures by Ned Seeman, medical applications and current controversies (Gimzewski). Richard Feynman is a physicist who was known as Father of nanotechnology.

An interesting research that I found was the work of art from Cambridge University. In the department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, they had a particular piece called “Crystal Kaleidoscope.” This piece of art, is a “false colour convergent beam electron diffraction pattern recorded at 150kV parallel to the threefold axis of lanthanum aluminate” (Midgley, par 2). The odd numbered zones have only a single branch of intensity that corresponds to scattering solely from the oxygen atoms in the structure.

As a north campus major and someone who is terrible at science and math, this particular topic was hard to follow and in the beginning, I was very discouraged to learn about it. But as I kept learning about what nanotechnology was, without even knowing, I had myself comprehending and being interested in the topic. Personally, I found it extremely fascinating that we are able to manipulate atoms on an individual basis and we are able to see them by effectively filling them with a need made of other atoms. 

Overall, I believe that through nanotechnology, we will be able to revolutionize our world. There are many problems that can be resolved through miniaturization. There are many issues such as computer technology, biotechnology, and even health/beauty that can be fixed through nanotechnology. I know understand how is it one of the most important industries. Through nanotechnology, we will be able to a bright future and I cannot wait to see how the future will be changed through the help of nanotechnology.

Resources:

"Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy." DMSM: Picture Gallery. Web. 22 May 2016. <https://www.msm.cam.ac.uk/department/gallery.php>.

"How Nanotechnology Can Change the World | Working In Nanotechnology." Working In Nanotechnology. Web. 22 May 2016. <http://workingin-nanotechnology.com/how-nanotechnology-can-change-the-world/>.

"Seven Amazing Ways Nanotechnology Is Changing The World." Popular Science. Web. 22 May 2016. <http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-11/7-amazing-ways-nanotechnology-changing-world>.

"What is Nanotechnology?" Nano.gov. National Nanotechnology Initiative, n.d. Web. 22 May 2016. <http://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/what/definition>.

Vesna, Victoria. YouTube. YouTube. Web. 22 May 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=495>.